Our second born, Dan, enjoying his Choo Choo Train engine at his 3rd birthday celebration.
It’s time my friend for another Hodgepodge thanks to Joyce From this Side of the Pond.
1. What do birthdays look like in your house? How are they celebrated? Any special traditions?
We always tried to have a special celebration for each of our children on their birthdays. Their first birthday was an extended family and friend event with lots of adults and kids. As the years progressed birthdays morphed. After having the inspiration to have a Choo Choo train cake for Dan’s 3rd birthday, it became a special tradition for him.
The photo above is from his 5th birthday celebration.
From Dan’s 19th birthday celebration.
When Dan met Jamie and before they were married, she made him a Choo Choo Train cake for one of his birthdays. This next cake was her idea, too, at his 40th birthday celebration in Arizona.
Dan’s 40th birthday Pokeman choo choo train cake.
What about birthdays growing up?
Birthdays were celebrated growing up but they were not the over the top brand of today. Simple cake and ice cream. Sometimes there was a gift and sometimes there was not a gift. One unique thing my parents did for my older sisters and me was to buy us a special birthstone ring for our 16th birthday.
2. Someone is sending you a dozen roses…what color are you hoping for?
I enjoy roses with subtle color, not the bold reds or yellows. You don’t have to send me roses but do bring a bouquet from your garden, please.
Are you someone who gets accused of seeing the world through rose colored glasses? Is your accuser correct? Elaborate.
I would say that I lean toward black and white, not rose colored. I’m more of a realist and less of a poet. Saying that, I do choose joy and am filled with hope for a future in heaven that far exceeds anything on this earth. I will be upbeat and have a smile on my face in many circumstances of life.
3. June 4th is National Cheese Day…will you celebrate? What’s something (besides a burger) you make in the summer months that calls for cheese?
There is nothing specific that calls for cheese but we’ll add cheese to egg scrambles, burritos, tacos, and some salads.
Summer reminds me of Bible Camp and Bible Camp reminds me of the classic grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup!
4. ’tis the season…any weddings on your June calendar?
No June weddings on our calendar.
What’s the first word that comes to mind when I say marriage?
It was a jumble of words because of our current climate where the marriage covenant has been so mistreated and undermined and attacked. It’s not a surprise since marriage was ordained by God and the model is His model. The original is the standard, a man and a woman, leaving mother and father, becoming one in marriage. I believe in the Word of God, the Bible, and what it has to say about marriage.
Mark 10:6-9
But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.
This is a great month to celebrate and affirm marriage as God intended. Marriage reflects Christ and His Bride, the church.
Ephesians 5:31-33 ~Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
5. What are you most looking forward to this June?
Having our epic garage sale behind us. The dates for this sale keep shifting but we hope to get it accomplished by July!
6. Insert your own random thought here.
The above photo is from a Happy Birthday meal on the Westside for Greg in 2024 just before we flew to Scotland for more celebrations.
From September of 2024 through April of 2025, we celebrated all 10 of our ‘family’ birthdays.
We sing, we blow out candles, we eat cake or pie, we gift, and most of all we love and affirm one another on birthdays and other days, too.
“The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
This is a fun hodgepodge and I love all your answers. My grandchildren “order their themes” for birthday cakes and I am honoured to make them. Hope this never stops …
…before digital photography, you must have been Kodak’s best customer.
I love the ongoing train cakes : ) I received a pair of earrings for my 16th birthday that were my birthstone. I had them until very recently when I somehow lost one. I might have shed some tears as they were a somewhat extravagant gift from my parents so many years ago. Not a typical birthday gift. I would love to grow some roses here but we can’t figure out where. I do have knockout roses which are pretty but not good for cutting. Have a great day!
You have so many fun birthday pictures. That is such a special tradition and gift from your parents!!
I enjoyed reading all of your answers- the choo choo theme is just one of the neatest birthday traditions that I’ve heard of! I love what you said about marriage- all of it so true! I also like what you said about rose colored glasses. Your birthday celebrations look so fun! #goals for when my kids (hopefully!) have spouses and kids one day.
Love your answers and all the family photos.
Take care, have a wonderful day!
Love the train cake idea!
And I forgot about grilled cheese; that is our go-to on nights no one knows what we want. I’ll just whip up a bunch of sandwiches and a big pot of tomato soup.
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I love the train cake. 🙂
I enjoyed all the photos today.
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I love the train cake.
I also enjoyed all the photos.
Carla
That verse from Psalm 16 is one of my favorites.
Great choo choo train cakes! With licorice for the tracks, cookies for wheels, so creative! And I love that he’s still getting them as an adult.
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I like the train cake. 🙂
And I love the photos you shared. It is always fun to see your family.
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Aww! What wonderful birthdays! I love the Choo Choo Train cakes.
Roses are such a pretty flower!
I am more of a realist too but still have a smile on my face and hope.
Enjoyed the birthday memory recall of your Dan. Love the theme carried through the years. You and I seem to have a lot in common – no rose-colored glasses and our faith. I like that.
Your birthday photos are so cute. I wish I was more organized with my old photos. That was very nice about the ring for your 16th Birthday. Those roses are very pretty. Yes, some cheese with scrambled eggs is very good. I love your answer for the question on marriage. Hope your garage sale goes well. Wow, that’s a lot of birthdays. Yummy treats too! Hope the rest of your week goes well.
I’m very impressed with all the train cakes. My granddaughter would love all those. She’s mad about trains at the moment. B x
The choo-choo train theme for his birthday cake is great! And how fun that the tradition has held up all these years!
I like what you shared about marriage. Every word so true.
Enjoyed your answers. If I lived near you I’d come to your epic garage sale…love the ring idea. Fun birthday celebrations as well.
What a sweet post, so many fun birthday memories! I love how your traditions evolve over time but still stay meaningful. Birthdays at our house are a little simpler, especially since most of our energy goes into keeping up with our dog these days. Thankfully, we use a pet waste removal service, so at least we don’t have to worry about that chore anymore! It’s the little things that make life easier, right? 😊
This was a fun post . . . seeing all of the sweet birthday photos brought a smile! I love Dan’s birthday train! That brought back some sweet memories; my mom bought a set of twelve train car candle holders for our son’s first birthday, and we used them for many years!
Agreeing with your thoughts on marriage!