Spent 3 hours just the four of us - W and kids to celebrate the actual day of S10 birthday.
I met them at W apartment, called and was buzzed in. The kids gave me a big smile and hug and I brought in the bag of presents I had for him. My W offers me some tea and I said yes, thanks.
We all sat at the dining room table and he tears into gifts. When he gets gifts he really likes he does a little jig it was so cute. I got a few things for my D6 so she wouldn't feel left out. I told the birth story of S10 and the events of that day and how it was one on my happiest days of my life. I told him that we sang him a song when he was born and we both sang the song.
I helped put together some toys for S10 until we go to the party store to decorate a cake. We all walk down, kids holding my hand and W's alternating.
We get to the store, start decorating. W and I are not talking too much, I ask questions about how work is going, and telling her what kids and I have been doing (chess and soccer and dance classes). I ask about what she thought about S10 and midle school options. She made a point to mention the options that are near her apartment. I just nodded and said OK and talked about a few other possibilities.
We took some photos of her and the kids and me and the kids, no photos of all 4 of us. We are just not there.
We left, walked back and I walked them inside the apartment. I helped D6 open up a tea set she got. I said I love you, kissed them on the head, and said I will see you Friday. I walk into W's bathroom, saw she was washing her face off. I stopped and said "Bye, thanks for a fun afteroon and for organizing this event", she said "You're leaving?" and I said yes, then I gently left and closed the door. I did not want to overstay my welome.
It was emotional and bittersweet but overall not terrible. Although we didn't say a whole lot to each other, we kept it focused on the children and a few other work topics. I made sure the kids had fun which they did.
She sent me a text "Thank you for coming today."
I then met a friend for dinner that she cooked and we had a nice chat. She is one of my solo friends so that was nice.
