Birthday Boys

As most of you know, both of our boys had their birthday this month. Gabe turned 4 and Sam turned 1. We definately scaled down this year since we have two so close together. Gabe's birthday was on a Tuesday this year which proved to be difficult in having a get together on that day since everyone in the family was busy with church callings that night. We have definately learned our lesson on having birthday parties during the week. We had contemplated having a friend party for Gabe this year since he has a lot of friends in the ward and cousins his age. But Gabe loves his family the best and would most want to share it with them, so we kept it to just family again this year. Besides that, both Darrell & I were talking and neither one of us had a "friend" party until we were about 8 or so and we thought that plan sounded great for our kids as well.

On Monday night Aunt Holly, Ally, Darrell, Gabe, & I went to the Harlem Globetrotters. Fowlers had planned to go and bought an extra ticket to take Gabe with them for his birthday. But as Monday came, Ty, Mitch & Jeff had to stay home for b-ball games and although Gabe surely missed them being there (he adores them), Darrell & I were lucky enough to go in their stead. It was fun for Gabe to have the full attention of both of his parents (which rarely, if ever, happens) and none of us had seen the Globetrotters for years....loads of fun!

Tuesday night, Grandpa & Grandma Kitty-cat (Phippen), Grandma & Grandpa Trampoline (Memmott), Onikka, Benny, Grant, & Uncle Brad came over for the big "Dog Party". Gabe requested a doggie birthday cake and thus the party theme naturally followed. We had hot dogs and other foodstuff for dinner. After dinner, Gabe opened gifts, everyone was very generous. We bought him the Playmobile "dino & the cage". He had been asking for that for a couple of months before and would on a regular basis bring out the Playmobil catalog to remind us of all of its awesome features. So, needless to say he was thrilled when he finally got it, he has played with it every day since. I made a doggie cake, that flopped on me at the last minute. It was supposed to be a sitting up dog and it looked great, but it did not have the support it needed and so I came in the kitchen and saw that it had flopped over. I had to quickly figure out a way to salvage it and thus it became a lying dog. Not what I had in mind, but Gabe liked it so I guess that is what really matters. Every year, I wonder why on earth I don't just buy a cake. The frustration.......... I'm not sure its worth it. Who knew that making a cake could be such trouble.