Here are photos from Mazen’s 11th birthday, some happenings in the house, and other updates on the home front!
Mazen’s 11th Birthday
Last Thursday this boy turned 11 years old!
While it doesn’t feel like yesterday that he was a baby, it does feel like yesterday that he turned 10! That year just flew by.
Birch and I picked him up from school with a bunch of Star Wars balloons and headed home for a scavenger hunt for gifts. His main gift was a Meta Quest 2 virtual reality headset. He’s been talking about it for months, and couldn’t wait to play Gorilla Tag!
He also got matching Nike Frees with his brother as part of the #nike365 partnership I’m doing. These are his 4th or 5th pair, and they are the BEST athletic shoes for kids! No laces and easy to slip on.
Dinner at Public
Public is Mazen’s favorite restaurant, and he LOVES the steampot. It’s a mix of huge crab legs, shrimp, mussels, corn, potatoes, and sausage.
We also shared oysters – M tried two raw! He says he prefers them roasted. We also shared an heirloom and burrata tomato salad.
And key lime pie for dessert <3
Family Party
We also had a little family party for him with the grandparents and it was the first time we entertained in our new kitchen!
I’d say the kitchen performed very well. Of course we gathered around the island.
We had a classic cookout with burgers, corn, watermelon and tomato/basil/burrata.
And Nona made an outstanding key lime pie for dessert (Mazen’s favorite!) Whipped cream on top and a Biscoff / graham crust. Must get the recipe!
We’ll be celebrating more at the beach this weekend! Yes it’s late in the season for a beach trip, but it’s a Donne fam tradition!
More Family Dinners on the Porch
Pizza night!
Steak via Blue Apron
Also loving the Maker Wines! I shared this one with Ellen for a porch hang. Get 15% off with my link anytime!
Breakfast Foods
Look what I brought back! I saw it at Trader Joe’s and I think the Biscoff in the key lime pie set off a craving. Yes it’s more like dessert than breakfast, but dang is it good!
Protein Granola
I’ve been loving this protein granola Cascadian Farm sent me as a sample. It’s made with pea protein and the cluster crunch is great.
Bodos bagel with egg and cheese from Thomas!
Other happenings in da house
This little guy comes up to my room every morning as soon as he wakes up. We snuggle real hard!
He also had a big day last week: BIRCH was the Wordle! It has been my starting word before, but alas I started with something else. I did get a 3 and was glad I didn’t get an X on this day!
Work Hard, Play Hard
Thomas is still hard at work getting the exterior of our house to speed. You can see the half-built trash can storage deck he is working on. And there is mulch and dirt all over the yard to get the spots we excavated back to grass. Birch helped him unload some of the materials.
Look at that gaze of admiration!
Slow Flow Faucet
Also on the home front, our kitchen faucet – what a headache! It stopped working at full speed before we moved out and we forgot about it, so when we moved back in, it was still not working right (surprise, surprise). Water comes out, but it’s only a drizzle and you have to move the handle back and forth 10 times to get it to full flow for washing dishes.
We thought it was the valve and we spent a few hours one evening trying to get the valve replaced ourselves (this is why normally we’d just call a plumber! Time is money!) however after chatting with Kohler support, we finally got it. But turns out that wasn’t even the problem! They determined that our faucet is just broken. Luckily they are sending a replacement for free! I really hope this is the last move-in hiccup we have for a while!
On A Quiet Street
Finally, I just finished this book and it was SO GOOD!!!! A little creepy, a little thriller. Easy to understand and follow. Kept me up reading past bedtime because I couldn’t put it down. All the things I look for in a book! I just started the new Elin Hilderbrand about a blogger – Five Star Weekend. Excited to dig in!
Sarah says
Look at the wonderful family you have been able to give Mazen. You and Matt (from what has been pictured here on the blog anyway) seem to have really just expanded the love he is a part of. I’m sure there are more complex parts you keep off of here and I also admire that decision. But from outsiders perspective, with a child about the same age, I just want to say well done. I’m not sure I would have been mature enough to go through all that you have had to go through and still keep my focus on the right place. I’m very happy for you and it makes me feel happy to see your beautiful family.
Kath Younger says
Thank you <3
Melissa says
Wishing Mazen a very Happy 11th Birthday, filled with lots of fun, success, happiness and good health! I’ve been a longtime reader of KathEats and always enjoying seeing the happiness, growth and good times. So many great recipes, ideas and support through the years and I look forward to continuing following along!
Sarah says
I read Mazen’s birthstory when you linked it on IG stories last week, and I just have to say – WOW! What a tough woman you are! I am pregnant with my first child(ren) – twins! – due this december and am planning a C-section due to the twin complication stuff. So reading your story really wowed me – no epidural and all that vomit and pain for hours! And to think that’s what every woman did not that long ago. Truly incredible! Did you go drug-free for Birch’s birth too?
Been reading for 15 years, thanks for sharing your life with us!
Kath Younger says
I am not tough when it comes to needles and IVs and epidurals : ) I did go drug free for Birch too (still scared of epidurals). There’s really not an easy way to get a baby out. Wishing you all the luck with the twins!
Kathy W. says
I got birch in 3 that day too!