Happy Birthday Daddy

I prodded myself for the last 2 weeks to remember Reuel's birthday (I cannot remember these yearly events.  Isn't being maxed out with childrearing tasks a sufficient excuse for having a weak memory?  I wish I could blame it on that, but I was the same before children...Reuel always had to remind me it was our anniversary, and even my own birthday :}  ).  True to form, I forgot it was coming in the couple of preceding days, when the preparations really should have been made.  Luckily, I had bought him a spiffy new pair of work shoes a week back, so I didn't seem completely horrible.  I realized my mistake late on Friday night before his Saturday birthday and the guilt kicked in.  I spent Saturday trying to make it up to him, so now we have a kitchen full of apricot sweet roll, Nancy's strawberry cake, pizza, and the leftovers from a fine steak dinner (including hollandaise sauce and a salad of local arugula).  AND, it ended up being a pretty bountiful birthday for him, because Reuel and Owen headed off for the morning to a local ski mountain where there was an equipment swap, and he ended up with a pretty schnazzy set of *new* skis and boots.  So, I may just have to remember my own birthday this year in order to get a fund-matched gift ;)

They had a great time at the mountain...gorgeous clear day, and they took the ski lift up and hiked the rest of the way to the peak and could see the Boston skyline from 50 miles out.  Owen loved the lift, and had big eyes telling me all about it at home...special father/son day.

When Reuel and Owen returned from the 1hr trip, Owen was sacked out.  Reuel went to sit in the car and listen to his mp3 player until Owen woke up.  I went to take Reuel a drink and found this snoozy scene through the window:

After their nap, we finished icing the cake:

And then the old man ate his Omaha steak dinner (thanks to Granlily!):

We have the cream of the crop when it comes to Daddies and husbands, living right in our house!  There is rarely a moment this man isn't loving and serving his family, with a golden attitude and character, and a joyful smile.  (The only mistake he possibly made was settling for me ;)  We love you!  Happy Birthday Reuel!