It’s hard to feel too terribly grumpy when the sun finally breaks through what once seemed like an impenetrable wall of grey clouds. The sun is what saved Robert from a battery of guilt trips after he confessed he had forgotten my birthday–and that he had promised to go out with some friends tonight. Ordinarily, that would have gotten my ire up, but wonderful golden light is keeping my spirits buoyant.

Robert promised to make it up to me on Friday. He’s going to get a babysitter and make reservations at a nice restaurant. I’m looking forward to that! I can’t remember when we last went out sans kids.

Today, though, I’m spending the day doing things I like to do. The laundry and all other unpleasant chores are going to remain undone.

I started by cutting apart the “hospital gown” so I could fashion them into pants for Claire. The sewing shouldn’t take too long, but I thought it would be fun to add an applique bird.

I then read a little bit from one of the books I picked up recently from the library, Sophie Kinsella’s Can You Keep a Secret?? It is hilarious! It reminds me a lot of Bridget Jones’s Diary (movie tie-in). The main character’s inner monologue is so real and crazy–well, you’ll just have to read it for yourself. It’s a treat!

Finally, I started baking a cake for myself.

I’m using an old family recipe for a layer cake with walnuts and mocha frosting/glaze. No one seems to know its origin, but it’s been our standard birthday cake for years and years and years. I’ll post the recipe and a photo of the finished cake tomorrow.

ETA: The sun only made a brief appearance today. I started feeling bluer the greyer it got outside. This is the first time getting older really bothered me–and, to be honest, I’m not sure it’s aging that’s getting to me or the lack of fanfare that’s surrounded the occasion. It could also be the fact that Claire’s bird pants do not fit her comfortably. I swear, some of those Simplicity patterns are cut for space aliens, not humans!

Claire mangled the cake while it was cooling on the wire rack. It’s now a big heap of crumbs covered with lots of chocolate frosting. It’s far beyond being photogenic, lol! However, I’m sure it will taste good!

I apologize for the tenor of this post. I want to keep things positive here, but sometimes I just need to talk through things–and you know what? I already feel better for having done so.