Hananuka Days 4 through 6

I was a little bit of a slacker when it came to getting all of these up this year. 

On day 4 I woke up to a pie plate full of lemons. 

The best part?

When lemon trees are in season I am going to have one that is mine all mine. 

I have wanted a lemon tree for a few years now, so I am very excited!

My mom and Steve were supposed to come into town for Gavin's baptism. My mom was going to stay for longer so she was going to be here on my actual birthday. Unfortunately, my mom got the flu and my step dad Steve got pneumonia, so they didn't come. 

But my mom still got to participate in Hananuka. 

From her I am getting The Blue Book, and a pressure regulator. 

Very cool.

She shipped it out, so it should be here any day.

For the last day, Blake planned for us to go out to dinner. 

We typically like to combine my birthday, his birthday and our anniversary into one meal. 

It's all about practicality folks.

My friend April decided to be a saint that night and volunteered to watch our kids.

Spending a little extra time with Blake all by myself was the perfect way to end the week. 

   

34

Yesterday it happened. 

Just like it does every year.

It was a good day. Spent doing stuff that I normally do. Only it was better.

Blake brought me a 44 oz Diet Dr. Pepper and a pepperoni stick with a side of large smarties. 

That is always a good thing to have at 9 in the morning.

The kids were not especially good but I didn't expect them to be.

If anything I expected pure chaos.

So there was no where to go but up. 

Early in the day we were in the car and Canon was going on and on about how he knew what he was going to get me and that it was going to be the best present ever. 

"You are going to love it so so much!"

Do you know what I really want for my birthday? For you just to be really good and obedient. 

"Yah...I am not giving that to you. I am going to get you a pair of light blue jeans instead."

Blake ended up buying a cake from the store and we had frozen Costco pizza.

I didn't have to do the dishes and the kids didn't complain about what they were eating. Another win!

I was wished a lot of "Happy Birthday."

Truly I felt loved.

And a little bit more wrinkly. 

Thirty four is going to be great! 

Thirty five may be the year I want Botox.

Hananuka Days 1-3

 It started.

I thought that this year it wasn't going to happen. 

Not to be Poo-pooey about it...I just figured that we would skip it.

So, when I woke up on Sunday morning to this...

I will admit, I cried. A lot. There was some good hardy snot crying going on.

It was very sweet of my Dad to join in on the fun since he was here for Gavin's baptism.

He may have been a little afraid of my horrible sobbing...but I think in some odd way he was happy about it too. 

I suppose I should have known better.

Blake is so good at this, it would almost be a travesty if he stopped.

You can't stop perfection.

And truly that is what Hananuka is to me. 

Perfection. 

To have someone that thinks that much about you, and puts so much time into making something great...just for you.

It is very touching.

So I am glad that my Dad got to participate...at least for one day with the...er...touching?

How Did That Happen?

I am old. 

Or at least I feel that way. 

But let's not make this about me...because it isn't.

Lets talk about what is making me feel old.

Gavin turned 8 on Tuesday.

He couldn't be happier.

Me? I may have curled up in the fetal position and cried a little.

 Somewhere along the lines he went from no teeth,

to having lost some.

Not that having missing teeth changes the taste of cereal.

Fruity Pebbles...nasty to me...gold to an 8 year old.

In the form of abnormally colored artificially flavored fruit bits.

Gavin had to wait until dinner time to eat cake and open presents. 

I am sure it was torturous for him.

When the time came...he was ready.   

 I made an Apple Fritter Cake. I thought it was a good idea. 

Epic fail. No one liked it but Penny and I.

At least Gavin was gracious and said that even though he didn't like the cake it was still a good birthday anyways.

Not that bad considering, he has had some worse reactions to cakes in the past. 

The only thing he requested for his birthday was a certain Pokemon card.

We had to mess with him a little and put it in a bigger box.

Wrapped in another big box.

With a side of Skittles.

Until he unwrapped it.

Bliss.

Which happens to be the same feeling I get every time I look at him.