Zoe = 10.
When I started my blog back in 2008, Zoe was just a little two year old, which means that I've been blogging for ⅘, or 80% of her life.
Because she's now ten.
(It's kind of crazy that it's been a decade since the last time I had a baby!)
Zoe was born on Mr. FG's birthday, so he affectionately says that she stole his birthday. 😉
Of course, we do still celebrate his birthday....he just shares the celebration with Miss Z.
The night before her birthday, I put together a small gift box of goodies and put it under her bed. This is a favorite tradition for Zoe, although I've forgotten to do it here and there.
I put a Studio Ghibli sticker, some kisses, and a pair of Novica earrings in the box. I got the Novica earrings a little while back with a coupon code they sent to email subscribers.
Zoe's never worn dangly earrings before, so she was pretty excited to put them on.
Zoe got drawing supplies and a hamster calendar from her siblings.
(I told Mr. FG that I hope I look as good as he does when I turn 45!)
Mr. FG and I gave her some craft supplies, some art supplies, and a new rolling backpack for traveling. Zoe did own a non-rolling backpack for trips, but it's a bit on the small side, and she's always been a little bit jealous of Sonia's rolling backpack.
I did a bunch of research on backpacks, checking places like Lands' End and Pottery Barn, but even places like that got low marks for things like flimsy telescoping handles.
Several of you had recommended Jansport as a long-lasting brand, so we splurged a bit and got her one, which we hope will last her somewhere around forever.
I told you about their birthday dinner in Friday's menu post, of course, so you know that we had ice cream crunch cake.
So, that wrapped up our birthday celebration for these two.
In two weeks, Sonia will be the birthday person, then Lisey's up just a few weeks after that, and my birthday wraps up birthday season a few weeks after that.
(Joshua's birthday is all by itself in September!)
I see more ice cream cake in our near future. 😉
What did Mr. FG get for his birthday?
Let's see...the kids mostly got him music albums (via iTunes) that he'd been wanting. I got him a music software tool and a new guitar strap he'd been wanting.
Also, since he really loves this kind of thing, I got him the the fluffiest bath towel ever and four pairs of very fluffy socks.
I think the fluffy items might have been his favorite. Heh.
i APPRECIATE THE HEALTHY LOOKING TEETH YOUR FAMILY SEEMS TO ENJOY.
i CAN IMAGINE THE DENTAL BILLS OR INSURANCE AND COST OF TOOTHPASTE, ETC.
cONGRATS ON THE bIRTHDAYS.
rICHARD ZORNIAK IN sUNNY vANCOUVER bc!
Hi Richard, it's Bill of Bill and Lee fame. Glad to see you are well and still around. Don't remember when last we conversed but I think it was just before you left to live in Toronto to work in a book store on Young St. Early 70's I believe.
Still in Hamilton, proabably expire here. Simon Frasier, great! Allan Mathews would have been proud. Reply
First of all, Zoe looks just like her momma! What a grown up young lady. And, just so you know, I still have my Jansport Backpack I got my freshman year of High School. I'm now 37. Just sayin'.
Ooh, that's really encouraging to hear! I hope the ones they're selling now are just as durable.
Jansport is also really good with their warranty. You can send it back in if broken, no questions, and it's a very easy process.
Yes, that's another reason I was prone to buying one. That way I've got recourse even if it does break.
I loved this blog. You really have a lovely family. I love how mindful you are about all your purchases. I try to be the same. Happy Birthday to Zoe and Mr. FG.
How beautiful that child looks!!!
My Jansport dates from at least 1991 and has carried dozens of lbs of heavy textbooks at a time. It has never needed a single mend or fix.
I know what you mean by hoping current ones are made as well. You'll hear people extolling their decades-old gear only to learn the newer versions aren't as well made. For example, KA standing mixers from before the mid 1990s are made with metal engine parts; ones from after include (some?) plastic ones.
Yeah...fingers crossed!
Even if the new ones aren't QUITE as good, based on my research it does seem that the Jansports are one of the best options out there. I read a lot of reviews and it seems that even Lands' End and Pottery Barn have a lot of issues (which is interesting, because the Lands' End backpack was about the same price as the Jansport! And Pottery Barn ain't cheap either.)
I consider the J backpacks to be ridiculously inexpensive, given their quality and good construction. Hopefully the company will never realize this.
Thanks, Beth, for the reminder about the warranty.
I thought so, given how expensive the Lands' End one was!
Hi Kristen!
I love to see how the introduction of new (grown-up?) things is celebrated, such as a first pair of dangly earrings. It makes me sad that so many young girls today have nothing to look forward to. My sister and I waited AGES for things like earrings, make-up, and perfume. We were encouraged to enjoy being young, and celebrate growing up in stages. Thank you for sharing!
Good Jansport choice: our son used his through high school, college, med. school, residency, and still uses it at age almost 37. Same for the SONY clock radio. Nothing else has ever worn so well for us.
I read your blog first thing every a.m. and have for 6 years. Caught up right away on the missed wo years after discovering you.Thanks you so much for your contribution to our lives. Zoe is adorable still and will always be, I am sure.
Our daughter has had two Jansport backpacks over the years, and they BY FAR hold up better than any other brand we've tried! They get some pretty heavy use...daily to school...then to sporting events...on the floor of the bus, etc. and of course they carry what seems like a crazy amount of weight in them without tearing. If Zoey's lasts as long as ours have, she'll be tired of it long before it wears out! 🙂
Oops...spelled her name wrong. Sorry! Mine has been spelled wrong all my life, so I'm usually pretty careful about that!
Happy birthday to Zoe! She's a darling girl. I love the little birthday box slipped under her bed. So simple, but so sweet and special! Enjoy being 10, Zoe!
Happy birthday to Zoe and your husband, too. My youngest is also 10 ... I'm trying to hold on to the sweet "little girl" moments.
We've had the best luck with Jansport backpacks in comparison with all the other brands we have tried, but I don't have any feedback for you on a rolling style.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Zoe and Mr. FG! The Jansport is an excellent choice. I have used the warranty and the new one sent is awesome as well as the 10 year old one that ripped. Just had to pay shipping to them. Love quality products.