Birthday Time of Year

Yesterday was John's birthday! The kids are REALLY into birthdays!

I took the kids shopping for presents for Daddy and they picked out some good gifts. I only had to redirect them once when Wyatt picked out a pink soccer ball for John. I know he really wants this Mom! I know it!

Shane got John some twine

Sam got Daddy some car wash liquid.

Jonah got John some hand lotion.

Wyatt got Daddy a grill lighter and a tiny lantern for fishing (I wonder who wants to use that gift????)


I got John certificates for 2 massages.

Then we went to pick up the birthday pie for John. He likes lemon meringue pie instead of birthday cake lately (it must be an old person thing!?!?). The store that had the pies was packed when we got there. Me and 4 boys in tow. And just inside the doorway was a fully uniformed policeman enjoying a nice cup of coffee.

Then the boys spotted the policeman.

Did you know that it's my Daddy's birthday today? I just had my birthday and now I'm 4! I had a race car cake. I had a tractor cake. My birthday is after Halloween. I'm five. Shane is a baby. He is allergic to milk. He drinks soy milk. Did you know that? Are you at work right now? Where is your police car?

Oh my God they would NOT shut up!

The policeman talked to them and answered their questions. Then he told the boys that he would turn on his sirens and lights for them.

And immediately all three big boys raced out of the store. They were chased by a uniformed policeman, me carrying Shane, and a checkout woman from the store that saw the whole thing happen.

Luckily we stopped them before they hit the parking lot or the police would have had to fire a warning shot!

Then he turned on the lights and sirens for them, we went back into the store, paid for the pie, and had a checkout woman escort us out to the van carrying my pie for me. Is that standard protocol or do you think that she thought I needed some help? (The alternate title of this post could be called "The pie that almost cost us 3 lives!"

So we drove home with Daddy's near-death pie.

Then the kids wanted to decorate the house and surprise Daddy when he got home from work. They hung streamers all over the place and we hung the birthday banner over the stairs.


Then the kids practiced turning out the lights, hiding and jumping out and yelling "surprise" for about 2 hours. I had to make half of the birthday meal in the dark.

But Daddy was excited about his birthday.... and even more excited when the boys went to bed. Especially the part where we enjoyed the peace and quiet and sat in complete silence for a half an hour.... that was his best present yet.