~Nick's Birthday~

As some of you may know, Nick had a birthday two weeks ago!  I had the best of intentions to write a nice blog post about it that day or the next but I'm pretty sure sleep won out.  It seems like right now most days sleep wins.  Anyway, back to Nick!

Knowing Nick's actual birthday was going to be busy, we planned a date night the Saturday before.  While the kids played happily with one of my dear friends, Nick and I talked the evening away eating chinese food, picking out a bike helmet for Alec and seeing a movie.  No pictures, but know it was lots of fun.

On Nick's actual birthday he had finals to take in the evening so we met up for lunch and then headed back home for him to study while the kiddos napped.  After they woke up Nick gave everyone their backwards birthday presents.  The babies were so excited they could barely sit still for 20 seconds....

To their delight Lyssa opened her eyes to find a princess castle.  It was love at first sight.  (It was love at first sight for us too.  Our next door neighbor was going to put it out on junk day but decided to offer it to us first.  We happily took it off her hands and cleaned it up for our little lady.)

She gave Nick the best hugs and wanted to sit down and play castle with him right there.

Alec was so excited to open his present and find a bike helmet!  Nick, knowing that Alec's bike broke a few weeks ago, asked him "So what are you going to do with a bike helmet and no bike?"  Alec didn't even care!  He seriously would have been content to just put it on and wear it around the house....

So when we opened the garage and there was a new big boy bike sitting there it was ICING ON THE CAKE for that little man.  That excited smile was genuine.

Hugs all around!

Lyssa didn't want to leave her castle behind but didn't want to miss out on the action outside so she slowly pulled it all the way out to the deck.  I couldn't help but laugh.

A few days later when Nick was done with finals we had his birthday dinner and sang to him over strawberry short cake.  (I felt pathetic not making him a cake after last years chocolate masterpiece, but I just haven't been up to the challenge lately. I seem to be able to get the basics done for the most part, but all the little extra things just haven't been happening lately.  It won't last forever. Sigh.)

Nick was thoroughly spoiled with presents from our extended families and says that considering he was taking finals (which sadly has happened more than not in our married life) he had a great day.  Happy Birthday, Nick!!!  We love you more than Buzz Lightyear, Mortimer and chocolate covered strawberries!