The Young and the Restless

Thirty-seven

Every year Jason tries to convince me that his birthday is no big deal, just another day (lucky me, I'm off the hook).  Every year I still try to make it special because even if it's not a big deal to him, it is a big deal to me because 37 years ago the love of my life came into this world. That's a lot to celebrate.  We had a big breakfast, I sent cupcakes for his co-workers then he came home for lunch.  It was nice eating grown up food for lunch and I even made the copycat Sonic cherry limeade which is like the only soda he ever drinks. I gave him a present that has already been returned. He's a hard one to buy for, that boy. Then he worked, and worked and worked some more.  I finally pulled him off his computer long enough to steal a date night.  Dinner and a movie.  Nothing special, but sometimes when life is so busy and so crazy and so loud then a quiet dinner and a funny movie are kind of a luxury.  He'll probably be emberassed if I say what movie we saw, because it's kinda girly.  "Pitch Perfect".  It got great reviews and he knew I wanted to see it and that's just the kind of guy he is to let me pick his birthday movie (and because there wasn't much else to choose from).  Yeah, he's the kind of guy who'll run to the store and pick up a prescription for me at 10:00pm when he's up to his eyeballs with work.  He's the kind of guy who lets me know that I look like a grandma when I text with one finger.  He's the kind of guy who does Sunday dishes.  He's the kind of guy who is cute when he gets a complex about his George Castanza wallet.  He's the kind of guy who will wake Ryder up just to hold him if he fell asleep before Daddy got home. He's the kind of guy who pretends he doesn't like the Bachelor but won't miss watching an episode with me. He's the kind of guy who is always telling the kids what a good mom they have.  Yeah, he's the kind of guy that's for keeps.  Happy birthday, hope it wasn't just any old day!

Ryder just learned to give kisses.  He's very picky about who and when he kisses, they're hard to come by.  I've only gotten a few, but Daddy seems to get them all the time. Lucky.

Shawn's birthday is the day after Jason's so it was only logical that we would have a joint birthday party doing what they do best. I know it looks like they're holding hands in this one, but really it was a fist bump, it was just a cute moment.  Okay, maybe he wouldn't be happy if I referred to it as "cute".  (I must say, i'm pretty impressed with the camera on my phone and it's nice to not have to bring my big girl camera to the lake).

Jayden was kickin' it and said how lucky he was to do all his favorite things in one day, a soccer game, a birthday party (where he won the dance contest for the whole bowling alley.  This is like his 3rd party dance contest that he won.  It's beginning to go to his head.) and wakeboarding.  "This day rocks". Yes, yes it does.

One of my favorite things about the boat is that Ryder will fall asleep on my lap.  He never, as in ever, does that at home.

In theory this was the perfect ending to a perfect day, but in reality the kids were freezing, Ryder was tired and screaming and the peaceful night air was filled with Kenny Chesney and the raging kegger at the site next to us.  I brought the portable crib in an effort to keep Ryder out of the fire.  He refused to get in it, instead Kylie was curled up in there in the fetal position shivering to death and crying the Ryder hit her in the head with a flashlight.  We should have quit while we were ahead.