Robert’s Birthday Fun

Robert turned 49 years old on Saturday, September 6.  Woohoo! Happy Birthday, Robert!

Richard took a birthday cake to program when he dropped off Robert on Friday morning. I had forgotten to tell program that we were doing this but they know me by now and are not going to turn away cake! 

I wondered all day how the party went so after work on Friday, I asked Robert about it.  He’s a man of few words so the conversation went a little like this:

How was program today?

Robert (smiling): It was EXCELLENT.

Did you have your birthday party?

Robert (smiling): Yes, we did!

How was the party?

Robert (with a huge smile): It was GREAT!

Did everyone sing happy birthday to you?

Robert (grinning from ear to ear): Yes, they did!

Did you guys eat cake?

Robert (still smiling): Yes, we did!

Was it good?

Robert (still smiling): It was DELICIOUS!

I think he was happy!

We let Robert sleep in a little bit on Saturday since I knew he would be up late with his family birthday party happening later in the day.  Once he woke up, Richard and I told him happy birthday! Robert responded with a “thank you” and “today is my actual birthday.”

Yes it is!

Richard and I spent the day cleaning the house and running errands to get everything ready for the family party. Robert relaxed watching Family Feud and working on his word search books.  Every now and then, Robert would tell us, “Today is my birthday!”  

We responded, “Yes, it is! Happy birthday, Robert!”

Robert was so excited about his birthday that he must have repeated this 20 times throughout the day. 

By chance, I saw San Francisco 49er football plates and napkins at the store and since Robert loves the 49ers, I thought we’d have a 49er themed party.  Richard saw them and immediately made a connection of Robert turning 49 and having a 49er party! Sounds good to me and Robert loved it!

Eventually, it was time for the party and Robert (who usually gets cranky with a lot of noise) didn’t fuss about turning off the television or having a lot of commotion. He seemed to enjoy having a lot of people talking and laughing and even gave the dogs pets when they wandered by (yes, even Taz!).

We had four dogs and nine people, sometimes all in our tiny kitchen! The laughs were just what this house needed after months of worry and decline and mood swings. (Robert’s mood has improved greatly since his medications were adjusted and he is able to walk again. It’s amazing what a difference attitude makes in everything!)

Richard grilled corn on the cob and cheeseburgers - real ones for Robert and most of our guests and veggie burgers for us and Rachel. 

Robert read all the cards after dinner and opened his gifts. He even won $15 on a lottery ticket he got as a present! Chocolate cake and Rocky Road ice cream came next and Robert was in heaven (and will be for a while because we have a lot of cake and ice cream left over!). 

Fitting for the 49er themed party, Other Brother gave Robert a 49er cap to match his own. It was delightful to see the two of them together in matching caps!

The day was also the 17^th anniversary of me and Richard which just added to the enjoyment of the day. 

After these last few difficult months, I am grateful for the gathering of our family for lots of laughs and a wonderful celebration. Even though health problems persist with Robert and Carol and Richard, I was able to appreciate how healthy they are right at this moment and enjoy the magic of the day. 

Happy birthday, Robert!

Christmas Conversations

The holidays give us plenty of family time. Sometimes the results are cherished.  Sometimes they are frustrating and sometimes they are just hilarious. Sharing a few of the Christmas-centered conversations we’ve had this month:

Choices, choices!

Me: We should get a smaller tree this year. It’ll be easier to put up since the kids are out of the house.

Richard: What?! Get a smaller tree?! We’ve never had a smaller tree!

Me: Okay. That’s fine – I was just thinking it would be better for you and not cause you more back pain.

(After a five minute drive to Lowe’s):

Richard: Maybe we should get a table top tree. Taz won’t bother it then.

Me: What?! Are you crazy!? Why would we do that? We can’t have a table top tree!

Result: We bought a 10 foot tree for the front room and a 5 foot tree for the family room where Robert spends most of his time. So much for our big ideas for smaller trees!

Getting those cards done!

As I am putting lights on the smaller tree and Robert is working on his Christmas cards:

Me: Robert, what do you think of the tree?

Robert: I can’t see it with you standing in front of it.

Um . . . the tree is not that tiny and I am certainly not that big!

Stockings for everyone!

Me: Robert, remember my friend, Pegi, whose husband is sick? Well, he’s back in the hospital and his wife is very worried about him. Can you pray for him again?

Robert: I will. What are their names again?

Me: Pegi and Jimmy. Pegi says she believes you have a direct line to God and that when you pray, he listens and it helps her husband.

Robert: Tell her thank you. I will pray for both of them.

Trish and Rachel in the Christmas Spirit

Richard: Robert, it looks like Santa left some presents under the tree for you.  Have you been good this year?

Robert: Yes. I’ve been good.

Richard: I don’t know if I’ll get any presents.  I might have been naughty.

Robert: No, you were excellent.

Richard: What about Trish?

Robert:  She was very excellent.

Our yard in 2012 - looks very similar in 2013 . . . 

Driving Robert around looking at Christmas lights, Robert gave a running commentary on all lights. His opinion ranged from nice to very nice to beautiful. What? No excellent?

When we arrived home, Richard asked Robert how the lights were. Robert’s response: Excellent!

That's what I was looking for!

Wishing everyone a very happy Christmas!  If you don’t celebrate Christmas, I wish you a wonderful season, a belated happy Hanukah and the most excellent New Year! 

Everyone Loves a Party!

Hospitals, pneumonia and sepsis are behind us.  This past weekend was all about a party!

My hubby, Richard, and I have two daughters (his and hers) who are two months apart.  Step-sisters so close in age?  Yikes!  Sounds like a disaster in the making!  It hasn’t been – not even close.  They don’t just tolerate each other, they are best friends. Richard and I constantly shake our heads at our good fortune.

On Saturday, we celebrated their college graduation and couldn’t be prouder. 

Yummy and adorable!

(Well, I was actually pretty proud we were able to make these adorable chocolate graduation caps.  So easy even I could do it – thankfully, with a little help from hubby.).

We had enough people at the house to be grateful for a big backyard, an extra borrowed barbeque and college kids who know how to be comfortable in large, noisy crowds with barely enough seating. (Nice to know that college tuition was not wasted!).

A little tip: It helped to have invested in a five dollar table Ping-Pong set, a few red cups and a couple bottles of beer which turned out to be worth hours of entertainment.

A few days before the party, I called Robert to tell him I will pick him up early because we were having a graduation party for the girls.

He gave me his usual response of, “That sounds good” but sounded excited he was coming over a little earlier than usual.

There’s going to be a lot of people at the house, Robert.

Robert’s words don’t change but the big smile through the phone is evident. “That sounds good.”

Richard is going to barbeque hamburgers and hot dogs.

“That sounds really good.” Ha! The promise of one of his favorite foods gets him very excited about the weekend. 

Even though Robert didn’t deviate from his routine of sitting on the couch doing his word search puzzles (yes, during the party), he seemed to enjoy the commotion and the extra conversation and the food.  Definitely, the food. “The food is excellent” was his response to anyone who asked.  Followed by, “Can I have some Rocky Road Ice Cream?” (Some routines can’t be changed.)

The girls were relaxed and happy all day, visiting with friends, family and neighbors and probably more than a little thankful finals were a distant memory.

Even the dogs ran around soaking up the attention and way too many scraps of food (my protests to the brothers-in-law falling on deaf ears).

Congrats, girls!

Having a house full of people and hosting big parties is one of my favorite things even though it’s chaotic and exhausting and, days later, I am still picking up confetti (every party needs confetti!).

The smiles, laughter and happiness filling the house – yes, even the chaos – while celebrating life’s milestones is what family is all about. (That and a lot of food!).

Congratulations, girls. You two make me smile every day!