That Worked Out Rather Well

So for Tash's 50th Birthday, I decided to give her a surprise party. That was last night.

Plans were made, lists drawn up, and things prepared and I let the kids in on it and we got to work.

Operation Sleepy Sloth (Tash's declared spirit animal is a Sloth) thus was underway and it began over a month ago.  

I arranged for a reservation of a party room at a Chinese restaurant Tash likes and then sent out invitations.

Next was sending out invitations, and surreptitiously contacting Tash's contacts that I knew, so I could get contact information for other friends of hers that they knew.  This took some doing.

I sent out the invite, stressing the need for secrecy.

RSVPs started coming in.

Then we hit a snag.  Tash announced she wanted all of us to leave for Toronto Friday to have her birthday with her mom.

That would not do.

We then had to carefully come up with excuses why she could not.

First we had Abby claim she had a seminar on Friday until 5pm that she had signed up for and could not get out of.  

I noted that I had already made family dinner plans at an undisclosed location.

Tash was suspicious, but agreed to not leave until today.

I then made arrangements for the cake, then met with the restaurant manager and got things further ironed out.

This week rolled around and the RSVPs suddenly poured in and we hit the capacity of the room at 42 people.

It would be tight but we would make it work.

Yesterday  morning it almost all went to heck, as one of her friends emailed her to wish her a happy birthday and they were sorry they couldn't make it.

What part of surprise did they not get exactly?

We smoothed it over by claiming we had invited them out to dinner with us for tonight and it seemed like she bought it.

So, yesterday afternoon I picked up the cake.  Then Leah and I headed to the restaurant while Tash picked up Abby.

I met the guests as they came in and ot it all organized. and got the appetizers and wine going. She was then 10 minutes out, then 5 minutes. . .then even more guests came who had not RSVP'd and we hit over 45 people, completely filling the room and adding another couple small tables.

Then I met her at the door and we then walked in, turned the corner to the party room and Surprise!

Surprise was achieved! Operation Sleepy Sloth was a smashing success.

She thought we had something going on but had no idea about the scale. Everyone had a great time.

The food at New Mandarin Garden was excellent as was the service. I think we made their night, as the restaurant was otherwise almost completely empty for St. Patrick's Day.

Our happy crowd more than made up for that.

That was a lot of fun to do.

Happy 50th!

Tash turned 50 today.

Cherry Cheesecake (freshly made by me yesterday) was served this  morning for breakfast to celebrate the occasion, as one does.

After Cheesecake and coffee were consumed, presents were given.

 The birthday girl declared she was having a fantastic day, and went off to play tennis with her friends and she had a great time there as well.

We have a surprise planned for her later.

Happy Birthday Tash!

Another cycle around the sun.

Of course, a cherry cheesecake was required for breakfast this morning.

I made the cheesecake yesterday and it came out very tasty indeed. The cheesecake is actually pretty easy to make and a definite family birthday pleaser.

 

So Tash was born on St. Patrick's Day. 

Not too sure what it all means that she was born on a day celebrating an anti-snake event, wearing green, and drinking and enjoyed corned beef, but it's a fine day to celebrate a birthday today.

Today is nice, sunny, and 70 degrees out, a decent anomaly for March in Michigan and absolutely perfect for a birthday.

Happy 25th Anniversary To Us!

Today marks 25 years since I tied the knot.

25 years of marriage.  Kinda hard to wrap my mind around it.

25 years ago we said "I do", and we did.  We haven't done too bad a job so far, starting from little in a studio apartment and student loans to a home and two great kids and careers.  Ups and downs as you may imagine, but it's been more ups together than downs, so it all evens out positively.

More than 50% of my life has been spent being married to the most wonderful woman I know.

While we were going to do a cruise to celebrate our anniversary,  the world shutting down has kinda got in the way of that plan.  Maybe next year.

So instead, we'll be hanging out closer to home. 

I'm going to take her out during the day to a botanical garden she likes, then to a nice lunch, and then out for dinner to one of her favorite restaurants where we will eat outside on a patio overlooking a lake.  Not as nice, nor as memorable as a cruise, but we'll make do.

Happy Birthday Tash!

Another annual commemoration of Tash's 30th Birthday took place today.

This morning began, as all birthdays here do, with a cherry cheesecake.  I made this one and it worked out pretty well.

Then she got her presents from me and the kids, and then off to work we went.

At least this birthday there will be some restaurants open, unlike last year, so we can take her out for a celebratory dinner.

Happy Locked-Down 24th Anniversary To Me!

Well, it is my and Natasha's 24th wedding today.

Certainly, the most locked down one we’ve ever had.

Considering I distinctly recall the judge said I could have been a free man by now, being locked down for our anniversary is a tad ironic.

It’s been 24 amazing and loving years with Tash, with great adventures and wonders, including two wonderful kids, and I look forward to many, many more years together.

But - Next year for #25 though - we will get out and go somewhere special.

Helping Others To Mask Up

With the shortage of masks, Tash, being an avid quilter was contacted to help a local senior home as they needed some masks.

The masks are not medical grade, and certainly not N95s, but the request was based on the concept that they needed the masks now, on the principle that something is better than nothing.

So with fabric pattern in hand and having fabric from her quilting stock to spare she's been making masks.

She made them and dropped them off.

Then some of her friends wanted some, so she made them some, and now she's making more and dropping them off at the Little Free Library Box by our local school for people who want them.

The masks can be sanitized, washed, and reused.

Something useful to do while so many things are closed.

23 And Us

23 years Ago today, Tash and I got married.

While many things change, we've remained together throughout, not remained the same mind you, but we've gotten better as life goes on and we've grown together.

This also marks the rather unbelievable milestone that I've now been married for 50% of my lifespan to date. Hard to believe, but true.

If you told me 23 years ago that I'd be where I am today, with the life I have, and the great family that has made it so, I doubt I would have believed it.

It's been quite the good life together, and I'm looking forward to the next 23 years together and beyond.

Sunday Funday

Sunday was a continuation of Tash's birthday weekend.

The weather decided to cooperate and while its was a bit cold, it was sunny.

So we headed to Cantoro's Italian market for some shopping and then had a picnic in a park with the groceries for lunch.

Then on to an Escape Room in Novi for a family activity. We had originally planned to do this Saturday but there was a mixup at the Escape Room with the booking, and they fixed it by having us come back yesterday right when they opened. Kudos to them for fixing the problem and making it right.

We did the School of Magic room which was quite cool. Less logic and more puzzle/object finding and interactions with various objects to trip magnetic sensors that did various things, it was a lot of fun. Instead of being one room, it had multiple rooms and doors you had to figure out how to get through by solving various puzzles that would unlock the doors and sealed containers.

We escaped in 47 minutes, 13 minutes to spare. While not a record, we did beat some family friends who had done it with their family by a comfortable margin (they escaped at 55 minutes) so we did have bragging rights. Quite a fun and clever setup that was very enjoyable and the kids loved the "Hogwarts-not really Hogwarts we're not copyright infringing, no not us, uh uh"-type theme.

These escape rooms are quite the popular pursuit and quite the fun activity.

Then we dropped the kids off at a friend's house and then we went out to dinner with some of Tash's friends. After that her birthday weekend came to an end. A very nice time indeed and she enjoyed it immensely.

Happy Birthday Tash!

Today is not only Yom St. Patrick, with a wish of a happy St. Patrick's day to all.

It is also Tash's 45th birthday.

So, last night while she was sleeping I made her a cherry cheesecake from scratch so we could continue the tradition of waking up to a cherry cheesecake for a birthday breakfast.

It was a big hit, with all and came out very nice if I say so myself - very easy to make recipe and it presents nicely.

Then on to presents from the kids and me to her.

I surprised her with something from Tiffany's - a necklace with an aquamarine stone as the centerpiece since it is her birthstone. Guys, a quick tip - a gift from Tiffany's is always a good choice. She loved it, and since it had previously received the kids' stamp of approval before I bought it, it was a surefire hit.

Then we headed out to have a nice birthday and do soem fun things, and as we were out and about we went to a bakery, named Nothing Bundt Cakes, to pickup some freshly made small bundt cakes for dessert after dinner. A sample at time of purchase proved them to be fantastic.

The day ended at a nice Chinese restaurant and now we're home about to have the mini bundt cakes.

It was declared a very successful birthday.

Today, Our 21st Wedding Anniversary

Today marks 21 fantastic years that have passed since I tied the knot.

The years have certainly flown by, that's for sure, but it's been a tale of slow and steady improvements and changes throughout and some really wonderful additions to the family.

Still amazed that she's put up with me this long.

Happy 20th Anniversary To The Finest Wife In The World!

Just the fact that she traveled with me and the kids to Kentucky for the NRAAM, which just so happens to take place on our 20th Wedding Anniversary.

Instead of my suffering a mysterious demise from a freak firearm/diving/flying accident - all of which occurring simultaneously, she came along willingly, which is gives you an idea of how awesome and wonderful Natasha is.

20 years, how time flies. Unlike the old joke about how the judge said I would have been a free man by now, I wouldn't want to, nor do I regret being married to Natasha for an instant.

From being married as graduating undergrads to grad students together in a crappy studio apartment, on to a house and kids and professions, it's been and still is quite the wild ride.

Yes, there will be an actual anniversary celebration trip, just the two of us together, later this year.

Thanks Tash for everything, and here's to looking forward to celebrating the next 20 year anniversary milestone, and the next after that together with you.

Happy 4 Decades Day Tash!

Not only is this St. Patrick's Day, which is a fine day all of itself, but it's an even grander day than that.

Today the love of my life hits the milestone of her 40th Birthday!

Love ya Tash, and you're just improving with age.

15 Years Ago Today I Got Married....

And I've been happily hitched ever since.

Thanks to my darling wife Natasha for 15 wonderful years together and two of the best kids in the world. The time has certainly flown by and looking back I wouldn't have spent these past 15 years any other way.