Robb + Jessie Married & in the Badger State
They say it’s your birthday
A happy birthday to you!
If you look carefully in the background, that is Robb’s new MacBook Pro. His ‘real’ birthday gift, but I did surprise him with a new mug boasting our favourite font, Helvetica.
Golden
I turned 25 on May 25th. It was my golden birthday. Not to mention I am now a quarter of a century old, as my father-in-law reminded me. (And I can finally rent a car!) I have been truly blessed by my friends and family.
On Monday morning, the alarm went off at 7:00 and I was greeted with a smile and a “Happy birthday” from Robb and a twenty pound gift on my tummy. Unwrapping it I discovered the most wonderful twenty pound book one could ever anticipate. While I may not cook every recipe in the book in a years time (like Julie & Julia), I think it will make for good bedside reading and acquiring new techniques.
Robb made us coffee while we got ready and then handed me another gift at 7:30 –- a blindfold! He proceeded to cover my eyes and lead me to the car. We drove around Madison until he was completely satisfied in my disorientation. While we drove around, he gave me another tiny wrapped gift to “keep me occupied.” We played 21 questions and I was still clueless by the time we arrived at our destination. Pulling off my blindfold, I discovered it was a tiny white cardboard box with something else inside… It happened to be a part of the second gift. (It was a roll of b&w 120mm film). Is it a toy? Is it a camera? What exactly is a Holga? That is what I intend to find out as I make some modifications to it in order to make it into a nifty artsy camera. Hurrah!
We enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the new Daisy Cafe and Cupcakery on the Eastside. (This is Madison’s first and only “cupcakery”). Robb had some hearty whole wheat pancakes and I treated myself to a french toast strata (delicious) and a cupcake to go.
We also attended Bratfest and helped to contribute to the new World Record of 208,752 brats consumed (we ate one each). The Vincills had us over for a delicious birthday fiesta complete with every sort of grilled food imaginable for our fajitas and for dessert homemade vanilla ice cream and chocolate chip cookies (my favourite). What a great night full of laughter, friend, and food! On our way home, Robb asked me how this birthday ranks among all of my 25 years. This one was definitely at the top.
Secrets: Hard to Keep
But they are worth it.
On October 27 Eric sent us an email. He told us that he was planning to throw Ruthie a birthday dinner on November 6 (Ruthie’s actual birthday) which Ruthie knew about and was looking forward to. But really, Ruthie’s mom, sister and niece would really be flying in on the same afternoon from Tenessee – a total surprise to Ruthie.
To keep things as realistic as possible, we all volunteered to bring some tasty foods to the party. Robb and I would make Ruthie’s favourite, a red velvet cake. Kim and Jeremiah would bring a salad fit for 40 people (as Kim has a hard time making small salads). Anne volunteered to bring some drinks and appetizers. And Ruthie still had the party hats from Eric’s birthday party. The party was put together.
Now we had a small problem the day before the party. I had a midterm scheduled at 6:30 pm on Thursday, Ruthie’s birthday. How were we going to get the cake and ourselves to the party on time?Kim was able to distract away from the fact that there was no party or cake. We had dodged another hurdle.
On Thursday, Eric received an email from his mother-in-law which said that she had missed her flight! Thankfully she would be arriving later that same day. By this time all of us secret keepers were beginning to wonder if perhaps Ruthie really knew that we were planning something besides her party.
But yesterday, an hour before my midterm, and the same hour which Ruthie’s family was to arrive, I noteiced Ruthie’s status message and relised we had nothing to fear.
Last night Eric sent us an email telling us that Ruthie’s family had arrived and Ruthie was extremely overjoyed (and surprised).
In conclusion, as hard as it is for me to keep a secret – especially one this good – I am so glad I was able to keep my mouth shut for this surprise.
All this to say, a Happy Birthday to you, Ruthie! Looking forward to the real birthday dinner next week. And yes, you will be getting an Obamafied red velvet cake.