Two-thirds of our early-bird Crew (Buck and Gabby) loaded into the Nitro for a birthday morning donut run :) I rolled out of bed to help G$ decorate before their return. With baseball late the night before, everyone was so tired that decorating just didn't happen :) We didn't have much time, but we tried to make it festive!
Gabby opened her gift from Graysen at the breakfast table (notice all bananas pictured were ignored :) She found time to color while waiting for her requested birthday lunch at the restaurant of her choice--yeah hamburgers!!
We waited patiently for Grandma J and Auntie Z's plane to arrive! What a fun birthday gift :) Buck and the boys went to fetch our CA visitors, while we did some last minute house sprucing (and may have accidentally touched up the walls with the incorrect color of paint, oops! :)
After a quick round of catching up, we headed upstairs to sing Gabby her birthday song around a glowing carrot cake! Buck had to hide this one away because they were selling out so quickly, and she'd specially requested carrot. The unicorn candle holder was also a dad find. She was so excited about that little glowing pony, ha! "Stuart" came with a backstory about eating sprinkles and dancing on rainbows and making good people's dreams come true :)
Graysen was eager to show Grandma J his hamster and quarter collection. Gabby was eager to open her birthday gifts, so we put the one on hold in order to accomplish the other. She was excited about her shoe organizer, shopping money from Grandma, new shoes, a watch from her sister, the customary unusual instrument gift--a jaw harp from Brennen (along with 10 York Peppermint Patties!), many fun goodies! Perhaps not the best instrument for someone wearing braces, ha :)
Before long, the girls were due at work, so I drove them to their destination with a bag of clothes to change into once we figured out our dinner plan. Gabby was hungry for Mexican food, so we started running through the options--there are some decent meals to be had, but nothing that we were really raving about. I did a quick search online and discovered a little dive-looking Mexican restaurant in the old part of town. The reviews were through the roof, so we thought we'd give it at try. We picked up the girls from work and arrived at our destination. Graysen said, "That front door looks sketchy." Buck said, "This is gonna be good!" Dives are his favorite :)
The food was so good! The closest to CA we've found in the area. There was just one waiter and we took up the only table large enough to fit us all in the eating establishment. There must not have been many back there cooking, because the plates came out as they were prepared (but there were boatloads of chips and salsa to keep those waiting occupied :) The waiter even offered to take a picture of us all, so I get to be in one of Gabby's birthday pictures too! It turns out this is a favorite of a bunch of our friends--they recognized the interior on fb and were super excited we ate there. I guess duck-taped upholstery doesn't bother them either :)
Back at home, the Crew settled in for the next installment of the Marvel series--Infinity War--secured from the local Redbox. In fact, that's what they're doing now as I blog. I am SO caught up (well, except for that one post I skipped and need to go back to).
We are proud of the young lady Gabby is becoming. She's trusted by families who rave about her babysitting skills. She's finding her way at her first job. She's always honing her writing and illustrating skills. She's a good friend, a willing bandmember, and exceptionally good at organizing (and color-coordinating). God made her special and we love her very much :)
After a quick round of catching up, we headed upstairs to sing Gabby her birthday song around a glowing carrot cake! Buck had to hide this one away because they were selling out so quickly, and she'd specially requested carrot. The unicorn candle holder was also a dad find. She was so excited about that little glowing pony, ha! "Stuart" came with a backstory about eating sprinkles and dancing on rainbows and making good people's dreams come true :)
Graysen was eager to show Grandma J his hamster and quarter collection. Gabby was eager to open her birthday gifts, so we put the one on hold in order to accomplish the other. She was excited about her shoe organizer, shopping money from Grandma, new shoes, a watch from her sister, the customary unusual instrument gift--a jaw harp from Brennen (along with 10 York Peppermint Patties!), many fun goodies! Perhaps not the best instrument for someone wearing braces, ha :)
Before long, the girls were due at work, so I drove them to their destination with a bag of clothes to change into once we figured out our dinner plan. Gabby was hungry for Mexican food, so we started running through the options--there are some decent meals to be had, but nothing that we were really raving about. I did a quick search online and discovered a little dive-looking Mexican restaurant in the old part of town. The reviews were through the roof, so we thought we'd give it at try. We picked up the girls from work and arrived at our destination. Graysen said, "That front door looks sketchy." Buck said, "This is gonna be good!" Dives are his favorite :)
The food was so good! The closest to CA we've found in the area. There was just one waiter and we took up the only table large enough to fit us all in the eating establishment. There must not have been many back there cooking, because the plates came out as they were prepared (but there were boatloads of chips and salsa to keep those waiting occupied :) The waiter even offered to take a picture of us all, so I get to be in one of Gabby's birthday pictures too! It turns out this is a favorite of a bunch of our friends--they recognized the interior on fb and were super excited we ate there. I guess duck-taped upholstery doesn't bother them either :)
Back at home, the Crew settled in for the next installment of the Marvel series--Infinity War--secured from the local Redbox. In fact, that's what they're doing now as I blog. I am SO caught up (well, except for that one post I skipped and need to go back to).
We are proud of the young lady Gabby is becoming. She's trusted by families who rave about her babysitting skills. She's finding her way at her first job. She's always honing her writing and illustrating skills. She's a good friend, a willing bandmember, and exceptionally good at organizing (and color-coordinating). God made her special and we love her very much :)
1 comment:
So happy I was able to be here for your birthday Gabby; and you ARE very special.. love you to the moon and back!
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