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Sunday, December 20, 2009
Brian is 30!!
Brian turned 30 on Friday! He's been dreading this birthday for a while since with it, he moved out of his roaring 20s. It seems like a lot of people--especially men for some reason--have said that turning 30 was difficult. I, of course, loved the opportunity to rub in my youthfulness (I turn 30 next year) and made sure to raid the local Dollar Tree for all the "Over the Hill" decorations I could find! For some reason, I didn't get a picture, but when Brian returned from work he was greeted with a dining room full of black balloons, banners, and posters.
All of us December babies out there know that December birthdays are often overshadowed by Christmas festivities, which is more true the closer to Christmas that you get. We're always caught up in shopping and planning for Christmas, attending holiday parties, and decorating and wrapping gifts (for everyone, not just that one person). At some point growing up, everyone with a December birthday will receive some Christmas-related item for their birthday (I remember getting Christmas sweaters, socks, and a stocking holder--not from my parents, I should point out) and even non-Christmas items will often be wrapped in Christmas paper. With all the holiday festivities, it's tough to add in a birthday party, and Brian's birthday was almost always on or after the day the schools got out for the break, so either there was already a Christmas party planned in his class, or there was no school, so his mom was never able to bring cupcakes to his class in honor of his birthday.
I make him funfetti cupcakes every year for his birthday!
I'd hoped to have some sort of party for the big 3-0, but, proving my point above, Brian's huge work Christmas party was scheduled for the same night! Then I thought maybe we could do something in VA, but we have limited time there and every night is already accounted for. So then I thought at least maybe we could surprise him by having his parents come down for the weekend to help us with some house projects, spend some fun time together, and have a celebratory birthday dinner on Saturday. (And they could babysit while we attended his work Christmas party, allowing us to extend our evening worry-free.) His parents were totally on board and we kept it a secret for a month! I planned work projects (painting Breeley's new room, cleaning the kitchen, etc.) as well as fun activities, including going on a horse-drawn carriage ride at Lights at the River, and Santa was going to come Sunday morning because of limited room in the sleigh to and from VA. Brian didn't know anything about it, but I was super excited and I knew he'd be surprised and happy with his birthday weekend.
But then came the random snow blizzard that dropped 15+ inches of snow in southwest VA! As always, I watched the morning news on Friday and the weather called for rain in our area and mentioned snow in VA, but I didn't really think much about it because the norm is a few insignificant inches. But then, as Breeley and I headed to her daycare Christmas party (with our fruit cocktail of mandarin oranges and pineapple), Joy called and said they didn't think they could make it because of the bad weather. I was completely caught off guard and--given my excitement about the surprise and plans--very disappointed, although I of course completely understood when she described the forecast. As soon as I got off the phone, my pregnancy hormones got the best of me and I burst out crying! Then, before I could collect myself (although I thought I had), Doug called and relayed the same message, and I burst out crying on the phone! Well, apparently he has a soft spot for crying, pregnant daughter-in-laws, because by the time I finished with Breeley's party, told Brian about the busted surprise, and played message-tag with Brian's parents, they were already heading into North Carolina as the snow came down!
[I almost gave my dear 30-year-old husband a heart attack by the way I was crying when I called to tell him about the busted surprise. He was mad when I finally spit it out because he was worried it was something much more serious. However, then I explained that now we didn't have a babysitter for the party that night (I'd told him friends were watching her--which I'd played up when we saw them at my work holiday party the night before--but really it was supposed to be his parents). I think he understood a little better the lengths I'd gone to make a special birthday weekend, and I could hear his disappointment too, although he of course also completely understood and agreed that his parents shouldn't risk the drive given the terrible forecast.]
So... we did have a great visit with Brian's parents, but it wasn't exactly as planned. They drove through blowing snow in VA and northern NC, but made it safely and enjoyed a fun night with Breeley while we attended the FN Christmas Party well into the night. Breeley grew immediately attached to Pappy and easily waved us off when we left!
Here we are. all dressed up and ready to go:
When we got back from the party, Santa's helpers stayed up until 2 a.m. putting together a thousand-part kitchen set and rearranging the dining room for Santa's arrival. We all enjoyed experiencing Breeley's first visit from Santa (that'll be a separate post) and then Brian's birthday brunch at Shoney's.
Breeley really liked the present-opening part and didn't care at all that they contained boring clothes and an antler-mounting kit!
We were sad that Ma and Pappy had to cut the visit short to get back to VA due to the still-falling snow and risk of ice (and because Doug had to work--clearing snow--on Sunday). But, I know it meant a lot to Brian (and to me) that they braved the nasty weather to help make Brian's 30th birthday more special.
As special as a near-Christmas birthday can be anyway. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Christmas season... I'd just prefer it to be independent of birthdays (other than that of Baby Jesus). Therefore, this is the official announcement that if my next pregnancy ends up with a December due date, you can bet it wasn't planned! :)
HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY, BRIAN!! We love you and you are super special to us all year!!
All of us December babies out there know that December birthdays are often overshadowed by Christmas festivities, which is more true the closer to Christmas that you get. We're always caught up in shopping and planning for Christmas, attending holiday parties, and decorating and wrapping gifts (for everyone, not just that one person). At some point growing up, everyone with a December birthday will receive some Christmas-related item for their birthday (I remember getting Christmas sweaters, socks, and a stocking holder--not from my parents, I should point out) and even non-Christmas items will often be wrapped in Christmas paper. With all the holiday festivities, it's tough to add in a birthday party, and Brian's birthday was almost always on or after the day the schools got out for the break, so either there was already a Christmas party planned in his class, or there was no school, so his mom was never able to bring cupcakes to his class in honor of his birthday.
I make him funfetti cupcakes every year for his birthday!
I'd hoped to have some sort of party for the big 3-0, but, proving my point above, Brian's huge work Christmas party was scheduled for the same night! Then I thought maybe we could do something in VA, but we have limited time there and every night is already accounted for. So then I thought at least maybe we could surprise him by having his parents come down for the weekend to help us with some house projects, spend some fun time together, and have a celebratory birthday dinner on Saturday. (And they could babysit while we attended his work Christmas party, allowing us to extend our evening worry-free.) His parents were totally on board and we kept it a secret for a month! I planned work projects (painting Breeley's new room, cleaning the kitchen, etc.) as well as fun activities, including going on a horse-drawn carriage ride at Lights at the River, and Santa was going to come Sunday morning because of limited room in the sleigh to and from VA. Brian didn't know anything about it, but I was super excited and I knew he'd be surprised and happy with his birthday weekend.
But then came the random snow blizzard that dropped 15+ inches of snow in southwest VA! As always, I watched the morning news on Friday and the weather called for rain in our area and mentioned snow in VA, but I didn't really think much about it because the norm is a few insignificant inches. But then, as Breeley and I headed to her daycare Christmas party (with our fruit cocktail of mandarin oranges and pineapple), Joy called and said they didn't think they could make it because of the bad weather. I was completely caught off guard and--given my excitement about the surprise and plans--very disappointed, although I of course completely understood when she described the forecast. As soon as I got off the phone, my pregnancy hormones got the best of me and I burst out crying! Then, before I could collect myself (although I thought I had), Doug called and relayed the same message, and I burst out crying on the phone! Well, apparently he has a soft spot for crying, pregnant daughter-in-laws, because by the time I finished with Breeley's party, told Brian about the busted surprise, and played message-tag with Brian's parents, they were already heading into North Carolina as the snow came down!
[I almost gave my dear 30-year-old husband a heart attack by the way I was crying when I called to tell him about the busted surprise. He was mad when I finally spit it out because he was worried it was something much more serious. However, then I explained that now we didn't have a babysitter for the party that night (I'd told him friends were watching her--which I'd played up when we saw them at my work holiday party the night before--but really it was supposed to be his parents). I think he understood a little better the lengths I'd gone to make a special birthday weekend, and I could hear his disappointment too, although he of course also completely understood and agreed that his parents shouldn't risk the drive given the terrible forecast.]
So... we did have a great visit with Brian's parents, but it wasn't exactly as planned. They drove through blowing snow in VA and northern NC, but made it safely and enjoyed a fun night with Breeley while we attended the FN Christmas Party well into the night. Breeley grew immediately attached to Pappy and easily waved us off when we left!
Here we are. all dressed up and ready to go:
When we got back from the party, Santa's helpers stayed up until 2 a.m. putting together a thousand-part kitchen set and rearranging the dining room for Santa's arrival. We all enjoyed experiencing Breeley's first visit from Santa (that'll be a separate post) and then Brian's birthday brunch at Shoney's.
Breeley really liked the present-opening part and didn't care at all that they contained boring clothes and an antler-mounting kit!
We were sad that Ma and Pappy had to cut the visit short to get back to VA due to the still-falling snow and risk of ice (and because Doug had to work--clearing snow--on Sunday). But, I know it meant a lot to Brian (and to me) that they braved the nasty weather to help make Brian's 30th birthday more special.
As special as a near-Christmas birthday can be anyway. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Christmas season... I'd just prefer it to be independent of birthdays (other than that of Baby Jesus). Therefore, this is the official announcement that if my next pregnancy ends up with a December due date, you can bet it wasn't planned! :)
HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY, BRIAN!! We love you and you are super special to us all year!!
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