Happy Birthday Ben!

Ben turned 27 on Friday.  It's weird that he's 27 because that rounds up to 30.  I know 25 and 26 would technically round up too, but those ages are more "mid-twenties" than "late-twenties".  I think Ben is freaked out by it just a little.  Oh well, I keep him young with my young-ness, right?  His birthday was a little higgledy-piggledy this year because he was on call on his birthday at Children's Hospital for his pediatric infectious disease rotation.  Sounds conducive to having our own newborn at home, right?  NOT.  He's been very good about washing his hands and changing his clothes right when he comes in the door before he picks up either of the kids, but it's still enough to make one worry.

Anyway, I digress. 

We had his cake Wednesday night, then I made him his birthday dinner on Thursday night before he rushed off to Scouts.  If you know Ben, you know he loves seafood and that I do not for the most part.  So I compromised and made salmon (which I do like) with a pistachio and brown sugar crust.  Don't knock it 'til you try it.  It was fabulous.  And Bennish.  He also requested "those rosemary potatoes your mom made when she was here."  Meaning, Crash Hot Potatoes from Pioneer Woman.  Shhh....don't tell him that's where they're from because he thinks she is the source of our out-of-shapeness.  Well, we have shapes, but they're like the Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters.  And she can't help that all of her recipes are fabulous, and that many of them appeal to me when I'm in the mood for comfort food, can she?

I digress again.

During birthday dinner festivities, I asked Ben if he wanted me to make him cupcakes or anything to take to work the next day to share with his little co-workers (isn't that cute that he has co-workers?).  He said "Sure, but the other med student said he was making me a cake, so maybe I should call him and tell him you're doing one."  So he called and the other sort-of-odd med student said he was making cake anyway.  This med student had also brought baked goods twice earlier in the week, so I took this as a challenge to outshine him.  Just 'cause I'm competitive like that and I don't have much else to do.  I bake.  I like it.  So I made a repeat of the cake I made Wednesday night since I had a bunch of leftover stuff.  I was glad Ben would have some little thing to make it feel like it was his birthday.

So my Friday night was planned out to have chicken nuggets or mac n' cheese with the kids AGAIN, then putting E to bed and crafting while Sammi looked on cooing.  Instead, happily I received a call that Ben was on his way home and that his awesome resident, (Kelly Sandberg, the very same as in our ward) let him go because it was his birthday!  What a swell guy.  So E and I hurried to finish the birthday sign we were already making and we floundered around for something celebratory to do since we'd kind of used up everything already...including presents since his b-day present was a new suit which he received before Sammi's blessing.  So we decided to go to dinner, but Ben got to choose so it was a Chinese buffet (gag).  Not my choice, but it was his birthday, so I acquiesced.  We finished the evening out with some store-bought gelato and 101 Dalmations with E.  Oh, how times have changed since before we were married or had kids. :)

Saturday Ben went on a man-date with Mike Richards to the Buckeye game.  I mean, Mike is pretty fun.  Even other men are attracted to him.  True story. 

And Ben thinks MY birthday celebrations are long and overdrawn.

The birthday boy

Birthday friends.  Ben's is on the 24th and Jordon's is on the 25th.  Plus, they both have matching boys in yellow shirts.

 Emerson was excited for Daddy's birthday for DAYS.  He was in disbelief that the day had actually arrived when he could finally have "day-day cake."  Do you like that he's leering at the cake?  He ran around the house yelling "Happy day-day to YOU!" all day until Daddy got home.

 The big moment.  Happy day-day cake.

 He and "eeyam" (William) pretending to be asleep on the couch.  They think they are so clever.

The "day-day" cake.