Olivia Turns 13 — Birthday Dinner, Presents, and the Best Cake Ever
Olivia turns 13 today, and this mama is equal parts overjoyed and not quite ready for it. Our baby girl — our youngest, our only biological child, the one who rounds out this wild and wonderful family of seven — is officially a teenager. I don’t know how that happened, but here we are.
She knew exactly what she wanted for her birthday: dinner at Outback Steakhouse with the whole family, and she had one special request — could two of her older siblings’ friends who are basically family come too? Of course they could. So we rolled into Outback nine deep and took over a corner of the restaurant like we always do. Nobody does a birthday dinner quiet around here.
After dinner we came home to a dining room decorated with a happy birthday banner (this banner was specially made by grandma and has served as our birthday banner for every kid’s birthday), a pile of presents in the corner, and the grand finale — a Baskin-Robbins Oreo ice cream cake with every candle lit. Her big gift was a guitar, and when she opened it, the whole room erupted. She said it was the best birthday she had ever had. That’s all this mama needed to hear.
Olivia turns 13 today, and around here, birthdays are a big deal — especially this one.
She planned the whole evening herself, which honestly tells you everything you need to know about Olivia. Dinner at Outback Steakhouse with the family, and yes, she personally requested that two of her older siblings’ friends join us — because they’re her people too. We were a table of nine, and it was loud and wonderful and exactly right.
Back home, the dining room was decorated with a happy birthday banner stretched across the wall and her gifts stacked up in the corner. She worked through that pile like a pro. But the big moment? When she got to the guitar. She had no idea it was coming, and the look on her face is one I will not forget for a very long time.
And then there was the cake. Olivia had one request and one request only: a Baskin-Robbins Oreo ice cream cake. Whipped cream rosettes, whole Oreos around the edge, chocolate drizzle everywhere, candles lit — I carried it in from the kitchen and the whole family started singing. It was perfect.
She said it was the best birthday she had ever had.
I think about what it means to have all five of my kids under one roof, gathered around a table, celebrating one of their own — and I just feel so grateful. This family, these people, this life. There is truly no place I would rather be than right here, right now, with all of them.
Happy birthday, Livie. Being your mama is one of the greatest gifts of my life. 🎂
More Family Moments You’ll Love
- Alexander’s Birthday — Our Baby Boy Turns 14 — Another birthday in the books — our boy turned fourteen and we celebrated him big.
- Daughter Graduated College Today and My Mama Cup Is Overflowing — From birthday candles to a college diploma — the proudest mama day yet.
- Kira’s Adoption Story: Tiny But Mighty — The story of our tiny but mighty girl and the joy she brought home with her.
Olivia Turns 13 — About the Longstreth Family
Welcome to the Longstreth family! Stephanie and Jason have been married for 33 years and together they are raising five incredible kids — four of whom came to them through adoption, a cause that is deeply close to their hearts. One of their children has Down syndrome and some special medical needs, and advocating for that community is a passion they share proudly. Jason is a preacher, an elder, and a college professor. Stephanie is a stay at home mom and the heartbeat of this household. Life in the Longstreth home is big, busy, beautiful, and never boring — and they love sharing it with you!