Today is Jason's birthday. I forgot. Until about 3:30 this afternoon when my niece, Angela (refer to previous post to see picture of Angela) called to wish him a happy birthday. I didn't really FORGET, forget. On some level I knew his birthday was soon, I just sort of forgot it was Friday today. My brain is full of holes. Not like swiss cheese, more like havarti....little holes. Little holes that forget big things.
In said realization of birthday, we (kids & I) decided to greet Jason when he got home with all the things he loves: "Happy Birthday Dad! Come sit on the couch! We changed the channel from Baby Einstein to the Olympics. Here's a cold Full Throttle. We got you a copy of the Thrifty Nickel to peruse, and here is a crown for you to wear! Do you like your balloons? Let me get you a pillow and you can lay down for a bit. We turned off all the lights and turned up the thermostat! The kids drew you some happy birthday pictures, aren't they cute? Let me rub your feet after your long day of work! We made you a cake!"
In the short amount of time from realization to Jason's return home, I thought I'd make a cake. It was a yummy, from scratch, chocolate cake with the coconut frosting that you put under the broiler to make it all caramely.
MMMmm.......see?
So I pulled it out from under the broiler and set it on the counter top to cool. We put the finishing touches on our welcome home and waited for Jason to appear. He had called from work as he left, so I figured we had plenty of time. I had bought enough candles to signify each and every year Jason is celebrating. 38 is a lot of candles for a cake. I giggled in anticipation as I packed in the proliferation of potential pyrotechnics. I walked away for a few minutes only to return to this:
Notice anything odd?
Look again.....
see how the candles are tilting at funny angles?
**insert unladylike expletive here**
Yes. That is exactly what I did.
I melted half of thirty-eight candles into Jason's almost-wasn't birthday cake. It's not funny. Wait...... Yes. Yes it is funny. It just took me a minute or so to realize it.
See, Jason doesn't really care about the trappings of a birthday. He has always humored me in the past when I planned a Martha-Stewart level production, but really, those were for me. But it IS important to him that it's remembered. I could tell he was a little sad at my first, yes FIRST forgetful birthday experience in 23 1/2 years of our history together.
So, Jason. I apologize X 38 for ALMOST totally forgetting your birthday today. Thanks for letting us shower you with our absurd attempts at adoration. Thanks for saying the cake was beautiful and suggesting that we could carve out the wax from around the candles and still eat it. Thanks for only caring a little that your wife is slowly going sack of hammers. Thanks for letting me take this silly picture of you.
And thanks most of all for being the best husband and father I know. I love you and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
A cool backpack is a must....
Nicholas tells me that these Speed Racer shoes make him the fastest in the universe....everyday, not just today.
This is Mr. Hunt, Nicholas's teacher. He seems very nice. Just like a kindergarten teacher ought to be.
