Family Birthday

Family Birthday Dinner - Tamales

Family Birthday Cake


Rockin' Out with Justin's new Guitar Hero

She was VERY happy to have a DS!

Cake Time!

As if I ever need to have an excuse to get presents!!!

After trying to explain to Annalise that we could celebrate her birthday early if she wanted to so that John could be here with us, I saw quickly that I was heading into a downward spiral. She would then ask, "Will he be home for Justin's birthday because his isn't until next year?" I'd try to explain calendar years versus timeline years and get a blank stare back. Justin realized early on in the conversation that John would be gone for his birthday and naturally asked about mine. The worst worry they had was how lonely Daddy would be on his birthday - they were puzzled about how to fix that one. A couple of ideas were floated and my favorite one was to send a pet (not Jasmine) in the mail to snuggle him.

The best answer became clear very quickly. We decided to host a family birthday so that nobody would miss anybody else's special day! Everyone got a present and we each had a quarter of the cake decorated with a different color. We each had candles to show the birthday that we would miss and I think the kids started to understand what was going on. Justin, who admittedly understands much more than his sister these days, decided to make the most out of the event and he told me he would be adding a "1" to his piece so that he could turn 19. I don't think so...

After we opened presents, John and Justin rocked out to the new Guitar Hero and Justin mastered the basics of 80's Hair Band music. Annalise has been waiting and waiting for a DS for as long as we can rememeber. I told her that she could ask for one when she turned 5 because that's when her brother got his. As I'm sure you can imagine, her face lit up when she opened the PINK DS! I got a fitted Broncos Jersey (47 - John Lynch) which made me so happy because I've always had one that makes it look like I am carrying a backpack or smuggling a child underneath it! John opened his present to find yet another camera. He asked for a small one that he could take with him but he looked quite underwhelmed to open such a puny thing after getting to play with a professional lens all day long! Poor Guy...

I've met many wise Navy Wives in my time and one of them told me to forget about what the calendar says and to celebrate when you can. I can honestly say today that wiser words have never been spoken.