Gabriel's 2nd Birthday

Sunday was Gabriel's 2nd birthday and my own 34th birthday, so we threw a party in the back yard. Not allowed to eat much sugar, Gabriel definitely enjoyed the cake, ice cream and fruit sodas that were served. The shot below is right after Gabriel blew out his candle.



Several cousins of Gabriel's appear in the photo and I had to refer to the following webpage for guidance as to how Gabriel is formally related. Gabriel's first cousin once removed (1C1R in geneology lingo) Teri Lynn Garcia is holding him. Teri's sister, Leigh Ann - also Gabriel's first cousin once removed - can be glimpsed immediately above Teri's right shoulder.

To Gabriel's right are Toni Rae and Taryn, Teri's daughters and Gabriel's second cousins. Behind Toni Rae is a partial glimpse of Me-Ma, Gabriel's great grandmother and Gramma Dianne's mother. Well, that's all settled and I got to learn how cousins are designated. Nifty.

Also attending his birthday party were his Grandparents Korynasz and Grandparents Reid, his mama (who was fighting through a bad headache, poor mama) and dada, and his friend Ian, Ian's parent's Karl and Melani and Melani's sister, both of whom are from Indonesia. Melani brought over some tasty sticky rice with chicken stuffed inside. Google revealed the dish to be called Lemper Ayam - here's the recipe for those interested.

Below is a shot of the kids playing in the sandbox - a big hit (thank you Uncle Tom and Aunt Kate) - though Ian's a bit preoccupied with dumping a bucket of sand and didn't look up.



By the time of the birthday party, I was already a bit worn out from all of the chores and cooking. I cooked a 10-lb. brisket in the smoker for ten hours and I have to say I think it turned out very well. I actually saw my dad cutting his like butter with his plastic spoon. I took that as a compliment.

The old Texas grocery store chain H-E-B, where I shopped on the cheap during college in Waco, turned out to be invaluable for brisket recipe information. Their site has some great, local recipes from various places in Texas. Check it out.

Gabriel did very well in the gift department, as can be seen in the photo below. I helped him open his gifts, he helped me with mine, and Gramma Judy is there showing him how to push the music buttons on an Elmo book. Gabriel's fascination with choo-choo's was clearly rewarded with several trains and train books, including the Duplo Thomas the Tank Engine set.


But honestly, if everyone had brought him a balloon, the boy's so fascinated with them he may have been just as happy!

Thanks to everyone who came and generously gifted both of us! We hope you had a great time!

Susan Butcher

The Anchorage Daily News reported yesterday that Susan Butcher, four-time Iditarod champion, lost her long battle with cancer in Seattle late Saturday night. She was 51.

I had followed her story in that paper over the past few months. It was just a week ago that her doctors at Fred Hutchison Cancer Center in Seattle helped her to fight a further complication of her body rejecting her tissue transplant. The same day they let her know her cancer returned. If you read between the lines, she wasn't given much more time to live.

The news is sad, and her passing reminded me of a particular Robert Frost poem. I've posted it below.

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.