Yesterday, Avdi’s official birthday, I tried something different with the challot–I sweetened them and filled them with a rich cinnamon sugary raisin filling, then rolled them up, brushed on a sweetened eggwash and seeds, and voilà!  Cake!  I made three kinds of fish, a chana dal coconut curry with rice, sliced homegrown cucumber, fresh fruit salad, and etc.  Of course Avdi got the requisite homemade bookmarks, along with other special gifts.  Since E’s pie was the birthday pie (with candles), we just had Shabbat candles and lots of leftover desserts from the party.  (There are also lots of leftover beers to choose from!)  I’m hoping despite Avdi’s exhaustion, we made his birthday memorable.  Now he and the kids are preparing for their trip to Chicago.