celebrating J's birthday
It's J's birthday today, the last of his third decade. How quick time flies - one of our first dates together was to celebrate his twenty-third birthday, in a Greek restaurant in Vancouver. Twenty-three! The mind boggles. We were so young, back then.
Anyway, the kids and I have all been gearing up for J's birthday for weeks now. Bao learnt how to sing (or at least say) 'Happy birthday Daddy', although when she's in a cheeky mood she will wish everyone a happy birthday except J. The Bun has been wrapping small rocks in coloured paper and he also made J a book that he wrote and illustrated all by himself. It's a 'holiday book' featuring all of the activities The Bun loves, like looking for rocks and worms, drawing, and playing outside. He did include a trip to a wine cellar though, for his father. He also suggested buying a gift for J so on Tuesday we drove out to the nearby mall after school where he picked out a nice scarf for J. I mostly paid for it but The Bun contributed towards the gift with some of his own money. It's the thought that counts!
I had a busy morning vacuuming, doing a load of laundry, and baking J's birthday cake. It was a lemon-vanilla cake with lemon buttercream frosting and although the cake was a bit dry, the frosting was pretty good considering it was my first time making it. I just barely had enough time to wash everything up and get dressed properly before J came to pick me and Bao up for lunch.
Sashimi at Uchino
Our choice of food for any type of celebration is inevitably Japanese food. There are not many good Japanese restaurants in Geneva, but Uchino in Versoix is one of them. It is constantly full and buzzing, and the sashimi is wonderfully fresh and sweet. It was a splurge of a meal but worth it. Bao ate ikura and tobiko sushi and bits of gindara shioyaki (grilled cod with salt).
After lunch we went to Chavannes Centre just outside the city to walk around and shop. We were hoping Bao would fall asleep in her stroller so that we could get some time to ourselves but she was too excited to be out and flirted with anyone who would look at her. J and I did some shopping anyway and by the time we were done, it was time to go pick The Bun up from school. Bao of course, fell asleep the moment she got into her carseat.
For J's birthday dinner we cooked one of his favourite meals - Hainanese chicken rice. This is a family favourite and the kids had no problem cleaning their plates. Birthday cake followed after, and I have a funny video of us singing the birthday song with Bao so entranced by the candles she forgot to sing, and the kids fighting over who got to blow the candles out.
The way Bao's smiling, one would think it was her birthday instead!
So that was J's birthday. Low-key, food-filled, and centred around the family. I didn't get him a birthday gift because he's impossible to shop for, but I'm hoping to find something in London instead. J had a birthday discount at a wine store here and did a big sweep for himself, loading up for the festive season (and beyond!).
Next birthday up is Bao's!
Anyway, the kids and I have all been gearing up for J's birthday for weeks now. Bao learnt how to sing (or at least say) 'Happy birthday Daddy', although when she's in a cheeky mood she will wish everyone a happy birthday except J. The Bun has been wrapping small rocks in coloured paper and he also made J a book that he wrote and illustrated all by himself. It's a 'holiday book' featuring all of the activities The Bun loves, like looking for rocks and worms, drawing, and playing outside. He did include a trip to a wine cellar though, for his father. He also suggested buying a gift for J so on Tuesday we drove out to the nearby mall after school where he picked out a nice scarf for J. I mostly paid for it but The Bun contributed towards the gift with some of his own money. It's the thought that counts!
I had a busy morning vacuuming, doing a load of laundry, and baking J's birthday cake. It was a lemon-vanilla cake with lemon buttercream frosting and although the cake was a bit dry, the frosting was pretty good considering it was my first time making it. I just barely had enough time to wash everything up and get dressed properly before J came to pick me and Bao up for lunch.
Sashimi at Uchino
Our choice of food for any type of celebration is inevitably Japanese food. There are not many good Japanese restaurants in Geneva, but Uchino in Versoix is one of them. It is constantly full and buzzing, and the sashimi is wonderfully fresh and sweet. It was a splurge of a meal but worth it. Bao ate ikura and tobiko sushi and bits of gindara shioyaki (grilled cod with salt).
After lunch we went to Chavannes Centre just outside the city to walk around and shop. We were hoping Bao would fall asleep in her stroller so that we could get some time to ourselves but she was too excited to be out and flirted with anyone who would look at her. J and I did some shopping anyway and by the time we were done, it was time to go pick The Bun up from school. Bao of course, fell asleep the moment she got into her carseat.
For J's birthday dinner we cooked one of his favourite meals - Hainanese chicken rice. This is a family favourite and the kids had no problem cleaning their plates. Birthday cake followed after, and I have a funny video of us singing the birthday song with Bao so entranced by the candles she forgot to sing, and the kids fighting over who got to blow the candles out.
The way Bao's smiling, one would think it was her birthday instead!
So that was J's birthday. Low-key, food-filled, and centred around the family. I didn't get him a birthday gift because he's impossible to shop for, but I'm hoping to find something in London instead. J had a birthday discount at a wine store here and did a big sweep for himself, loading up for the festive season (and beyond!).
Next birthday up is Bao's!