Happy 34th!

For Randy’s birthday we decided to throw a big old party in our new apartment.  Granted this meant that we would be hosting 30 people 10 days after we moved in. I for sure underestimated the amount of work this would entail.  BUT….it did mean that I worked super hard to organize everything to get the house in shape.  And come Saturday, we were all ready for our party!

We of course forgot to take any pictures of the party but it was a great success! Randy made a yummy cured salmon recipe that Grandma Gretch always makes and delicious slow cooked tacos.  I was in charge of spinach pies and salad. Oh and the cake which I got from Dimpys is our new favorite. Its a super moist, chocolatey, fudgy cake.  Everyone had a great time! Most people left around 11 (we are 34 after all) but a couple friends hung around chatting until late which was loads of fun.

The next morning I let the birthday boy sleep in and woke up with the boys at 5:30.  At least that meant I had plenty of time to decorate, make yummy scones and wrap presents. All this and it wasn’t even 9 yet.

Then it was everyone’s favorite time, present opening time.  Adam was super excited about showing Randy where he had signed his card.  When Randy said ‘I wonder what my present is’, Adam proceeded to answer, ‘Headphones’.  I guess we need to work on his secret keeping 🙂

1. His attention to detail in everything from his work, to the boys, to vacation planning. 
2. How quickly he can get either boy to laugh. 
3. When we’re putting Adam to bed and Adam always insists on one more songs Randy always stays behind for that one last song.
4. He loves popcorn as much as me and Adam.
5. He voluntarily signed up for a diplomacy seminar at the Embassy and handed in his homework assignment four days early. 
6. Organization is not Randy’s strong suit but when we moved he kept me company the whole time I unpacked and put everything away. 
7. On our drive into work Randy finds interesting podcasts and audible books for us to listen to. Currently we’re listening to New Yorker Fiction Podcasts and Great Course-Scientific Secrets to Raising Kids who Thrive.  
8. When I’m not around Randy listens to a 30 hour Great Courses on classical Bach and the Highbaroque.  This is the sequel to a 48 hour Great Course on How to Listen to and Appreciate Classical Music and a 25 hour course on 30 Great Orchestral Works. And he still finds time to help feed, bath and put the boys to bed. 
9. We’ve off to Phuket this weekend since Grandma Yuyu will be here tomorrow to help watch the boys.  I gave Randy free reign on booking the hotel and he chose the nicest one in town. He says we deserve it and I agree 🙂 
10. When I went shopping with Kate during her visit last weekend, I texted Randy to ask if I should buy some fancy French Sole shoes, fully expecting his reply to be that I was crazy. But his reply was, ‘They’re nice!’