not just another day

I know for some people a birthday is really just another day with no celebration, no presents, no cake; however, in our family that couldn't be farther from the truth. Young or old, we still plan a celebration of everyone in my immediate family & most of the time we even get together for birthdays of my extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) . For the most part presents are only involved for the immediate family members, but there's always cake, ice cream, & family!

Monday morning before heading off to work Hubby opened his presents from me & his parents (who made sure they were mailed in time to be here). I stuck with mostly clothes since that's what he had asked for. Most everything fit, but it never fails that something doesn't just work quite right. From his parents he got a Michigan Wolverine garden knome but probably even more special was his "bucket list." Together with his dad, Hubby has a fairly large, but mostly realistic goal to play golf at the Top 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses during his lifetime. Golf Digest produces a plaque with pegs to check off those that have been completed. Normally they are able to check off at least 1 course if not more per year...they better get busy if they're going to reach their goal! Hubby's dad already has a similar plaque and I'm so glad he now has one of his own. Golf is such a huge passion of his & I think this is such a fun goal for Hubby & his dad.

Hubby had no choice and married into our crazy (use any excuse to get together) family! So...on Monday night I planned a small get together of some close friends & family to celebrate Hubby's big day. Not everyone was able to come but we ended up with a great group & a great evening. I made chocolate cake with homemade cream cheese icing but also ordered a cookie cake with lots of icing which is Hubby's favorite. We didn't really need all that food, but I hadn't had chocolate cake in a long time & decided we'd just have an over abundance of sweets!

The spread...Yum!

Hubby & I with his golf-themed cookie cake!

Make a wish...I wonder what it was?!?

One of the gifts from my parents was a St. Louis Cardinal bean bag toss game. After it was opened my dad grabbed the camera & said "put your heads through the holes & we'll take a picture!" Why oh why do we always do stupid things when people tell us to?

Alright, so it's actually a pretty cute picture, but ridiculous!