Happy Birthday To You!

Happy Birthday To Yooooou!
Happy Birthday Dear Zorak!
Happy Birthday To You!

Today my wonderful Zorak is "three dozen" (his answer). The boys and I were up at six thirty, ate breakfast, wrapped presents, played, watched the most amazing storm move in and drench the earth. We watched a movie, and let him sleep in. That was my gift to him. Not much, but he sure was happy.

When the boys could no longer stand the suspense and began using Zorak's gifts as race cars around the downstairs, we crept upstairs to wake him with cards, presents and a fresh cup of hot coffee. They agreed not to pounce on him right away and shriek "SURPRISE", if I would promise they could do it at some point. So, he was awoken to a soft serenade of "Happy Birthday" by his little guys. I'll upload pictures after Jacob goes down for the night. They're really cute. Then the boys hid in the closet and jumped back out, shouting "Surprise! Happy Birthday!" That worked well all the way around, and Zorak acted genuinely surprised.

After keeping the "surprise" a secret for nearly a week, the boys promptly handed Zorak the boxes and said, "Can you tell what we got you? It's an ICE CREAM MAKER!" It's been a while since I've laughed like that. Very cute.

We enjoyed the rest of the morning in a leisurely way, played with the boys and looked at cameras. My wonderful, self-described shopaholic friend, Jackie, helped me locate the best price on the cameras Zorak had most wanted to buy. She also held my hand while I tried to figure out purchasing memory cards. Oy, things have changed a lot since we bought our last camera! I printed out the details on both camera and card and slipped them into his birthday card. We can't wait to place our order!

Around noon, Zorak decided that perhaps he would like a birthday bbq after all. *I cannot type the expression on my face at that point, but am pretty sure it's been typified in at least one comic strip over the years...* However, it sounded like a great idea, anyway. James wrote up invitations to come for ice cream at four and placed them on the neighbor's doors. He was so proud. We roasted chicken, made carrot cake and homemade ice cream, beans and chile, fresh corn chips, fresh homemade salsa, and chile con queso dip. The neighbors brought corn on the cob and peach cobbler. It was a wonderful afternoon.

It's a little after nine, and they've all just left. The boys are bathing, and I am absolutely bushed! What a day. What a wonderful day.

This is our ninth of Zorak's birthdays that we have celebrated together. I could not, at that first party, have imagined that this is what today would hold, and I am so very thankful for all the years we've had. I look forward to many more, too. BBQ's, children, good neighbors and one another- Happy Birthday, Sweetheart! I love you.

G'night,
Dy