And a Big Ass Cake. (warning: photo-heavy!)

Wish-making-anxiety written all over the face.

It was Jamie's birthday on Sunday and I was determined to not let the guy go hungry.  Yup, that was my main goal. Not to take him anywhere cool or gift anything terribly extravagant (read: year of saving $$), but to just feed him lots of awesomely favorite foods on such an awesomely spectacular day! 

 Morning started with pan-roasted pepper scramble +
a stack of mini pumpkin pancakes.

I stuck a little candle in the stack of pancakes before belting: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOOO YOOUUUUUU! 

After breakfast and after what seemed like hours upon HOURS of fairytale football*, I sent Jamie on an extra-long walk with Hudson to get him out of the house.  The only requirement on his part was to pick up some screws at the hardware store and to stay away for about an hour, making sure to call me before he came home.

Poor guy.

It was gray and cold, drizzly, and miserable outside.

To top it off, our stupid local dogpark was holding a stupid dog birthday party with stupid animals in stupid sweaters and costumes.  Much more than he could handle ("they COME with furcoats! why would you ever put a sweater on over a fur coat??").  Regardless, he did a great job of staying away for the designated hour.

*for the record, this is a term coined by Christine in reference to the ridiculousity surrounding fantasy football.  i like it so much, i now use it when referring to anything football.

When Jamie was finally allowed in the front door, he was met with a series of words laid out on the stairs up to our place:

I shouted from the top...."Read as you ascend the stairs!"

It says: Check it Out.  You're now older (read: bigger). Items may appear smaller than they are.

A mini birthday banner.

All day long, I had been emphasizing what a "big guy" he was because of his getting older and what not. In hindsight, this phrase can actually make someone feel fat, not necessarily older.  Must make note of this.  In the future, reserve "big guy" for birthday kids under 10 or so.

Regardless of the calling-thefiance-fat revelation, I had to maintain the "you're so much bigger now" because I had planned on making lots of his favorite food items in mini form and thought if he was BIGGER then the mini items would seem normal sized to him....makes no sense?

Hmmm...maybe more pictures will help.

This menu sat waiting for him at the top of the stairs.

Mini hotdogs wrapped in dough + topped with parmesan.

Handed to him on a silver platter...ha!

Mini meringues nestled in an owl dish.

Mini burgers with extra-sharp white cheddar,

"ketchup and mustard only" (his standard In-n-out order).

Mini Salad + PBCrackers.

 

And the Big Ass Cake.

Deep, dark chocolate cake with PBCreamCheese frosting,

dripping with a PBChocolate ganache...mmmmm.

Shot of mini pizzas with Big Ass Cake in the background.

Happy Birthday, Jamie!

Disgustingly good cake.

We polished off the day with a closing night at the theater. 

Two of the original Rent cast members brought the show to SF for a little over a week and we were lucky enough to snag some tickets of a sold-out performance.  It.was.amaaaazing and I have been humming showtunes every second since we got out of the theater.  As I sat in the dark theater, I realized how thankful I was for three things:

• Mom+Dad for ingraining a love of theater and appreciation for the arts.
• Being able to live in SF - a major stop for many traveling shows (+Grease +Hairspray).
• That I get to marry a guy who appreciates great theater...and big ass cakes.
  

Hope you enjoyed your bday, Jamie!