Happy Birthday, Dear Ruby

We returned home from Hawaii at 4 am Monday morning, the kids having missed the first three days of a new semester.  Tuesday was Ruby's birthday, so she was seriously snowed under with homework, had 5 F's, and had obligations until late into the night.  Nevertheless, she had a good day.  She got to sleep in an extra hour because it was late start.  Then she came home for lunch, where I was hosting my Shelter friends.  She collected their birthday wishes, then I went back to school with her for Dance Company.  We took a big platter of candy bars, a plate of macaroons, and a tray of apple slices for all those beautiful dancers.  Dance Company was Ruby's best bet for celebration, with so many of her friends there and a teacher who was amenable to the idea of a parental birthday interruption.  Thanks, Kim!

It took the girls about 2 seconds to gather around Ruby and pose for this birthday photo.  It is symbolic of the support Ruby gets from Dance Company. I know that each one of those girls loves Ruby and has her back, and Ruby feels the same way about each of them.  I've never heard one bad thing about any of them from Ruby, but that's also her personality.  You wan't Ruby on your side because she will defend you against anything.  I've had Ruby mad at me, and that is a place you never want to go.  The wrath of Ruby is mighty, but rare.

There was no wrath on her birthday, just sweet Ruby sunshine.  Grandma brought treats and a nice card, and Ruby gave candy bars to all of her violin students to make her day of teaching festive.  The day was a good one, but we continued to celebrate all week, just to make sure we covered it.  Scott took

Ruby to dinner Friday night at a new Indian place on North Temple, then we joined Coco and Bill at their downtown hotel for swimming.  The Kings had Sunday dinner in honor of Ruby this past Sunday.  Coco gave Ruby the cutest jacket!

Sadly, Ruby missed most of the dinner because of a church meeting.  Let's keep meetings brief, people.  :)  If you can say it in a text, don't call a meeting to hash over it.

Anyway...Ruby requested Indian food, so I made semi-home made chicken tikka masala. (Bottled tikka masala sauce mixed with a can of coconut milk and a container of greek yogurt.  Chicken crock potted with a special curry.

Ruby has been a light since the minute she was born.  Everyone loves having her around.  She is funny and good-natured and kind.  She has made me a better mother and a better person in so many ways.  She, more than any of the other kids, makes me want to run away to a place where there is no homework and people can just do good in the world and spend time loving and appreciating each other.  I hope for Ruby that she finds the most direct path to that ideal, and that her life is fulfilling and blissful.  Happy birthday, Ruby Marlene!