Friday Five: Las Mananitas

From Mother Laura at Rev Gals...
Éstas son las mañanitas These are the morning verses
Que cantaba el Rey David, That King David used to sing,
A las muchachas bonitas To the beautiful young ladies,
Se las cantaba así. He would sing them like this.

(The Mexican birthday song, sometimes sung as a dawn serenade).

My forty-third birthday next Wednesday will inaugurate the "Birthday Madness" season in the Grimes-Honkanen household. The next day Katie will turn five and just over two weeks later, on Feb. 3, Nicholas will be eleven. In the middle, on January 30, we celebrate the gift of Grandma Di; Nicholas and I were both due on my Mom's birthday but I was uncharacteristically early and he was little late. We will be doing a trip to Disneyland to celebrate them all in a couple weeks; in the meantime I offer this birthday-inspired Friday Five.

1. When is your birthday? Does anyone else (famous and/or in your own life) share it?

My birthday is this coming Tuesday! This is a perfect Friday Five for me. It's Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday too. I've always loved that.

2. Do you prefer a big party or an intimate celebration for the chosen few?

I like me a party. It's been awhile since I had one (the church threw a whopper for my 30th) but that's always fun. Dinner with a few good friends is good too.

3. Describe your most memorable birthday(s)--good, bad, or both.

Hmmm....probably that 30th birthday would be the last really memorable one. It was a surprise, which the congregation had planned without any knowledge on my part. When, at the end of the service, I stood up to make the announcements and a crash of cymbals came from the balcony - along with a trumpeter - I realized something was up.

4. What is your favorite cake and ice cream? (Bonus points if you share the cake recipe). Or would you rather have a different treat altogether?

Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. No ice cream.

5. Surprise parties: love 'em or hate 'em?

Love 'em!

Bonus: Describe your ideal birthday--the sky's the limit.

Honestly, I'd love for Beloved to invite a bunch of friends over for dinner or dessert and just have fun. Won't happen this year, I know (because my very special birthday present is a council meeting that night! Woohoo!) but someday.