Wednesday, August 25, 2010

a first of many?

I hope that celebrating Patrick’s birthday tonight was the first of many birthdays our family will celebrate here in Colorado.  I had no idea what time Patrick was going to be coming home tonight, but since he usually comes home around 8:00 pm or so (and then works from home for a few more hours) I assumed I wouldn’t be doing a birthday dinner for him tonight.  So when he called me a little after 6:00 and said he was leaving, I decided to change our plans.  I didn’t have time to make a cake, but decided to throw together some dinner that we could easily transport and told the girls to go get their swimsuits on.  When he got home almost an hour later (HORRIBLE traffic) we packed up our little wagon and took off for the pool.  We have been truly taking advantage of living a TWO MINUTE WALK from our neighborhood pool.  It is heaven.

We sat at one of the tables and ate pasta salad and cantaloupe and then the big girls and Patrick took a dip.

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We didn’t stay long since it was a school night, of course, but it was a fun little break for all of us.  And then we walked back. . .

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It really is just TWO MINUTES AWAY.  Ummmm. . . did I mention how much I love living close to the pool?  You better come visit before it closes in a little over a week!

We came back and gave Patrick his one big present.  Now that he has an actual office in our house, he needed a proper desk with plenty of storage.

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Yes, even with those built-in bookcases, he still needed more storage, so that’s what I gave him!  (I made one last trip to IKEA before we left Charlotte to pick this up and tossed it on the moving truck with everything else—no IKEAs in Denver yet!)  I put a few items up for display for the “big reveal” (notice the title belt?) but we still need to properly arrange all the cubbies (along with the built-ins).  It is going to be so much more functional for him, and with as hard as he’s been working at this new job, boy, does he ever deserve it!  Special thanks to my mom for patiently helping me put it all together today!  (Oh, and to the 17 year old kid down the street for helping me lift the beast up after we put it together!)

Happy birthday, babe!  It was almost exactly 13 years ago now that we met in that running shoe store and and I sure had no idea how that “chance meeting” with a part-time shoe salesman was going to change my life.  You’re the best and I’ll keep reminding you until you believe it.  Oh, and don’t be too mad at me for not having your carrot cake ready tonight!

8 comments:

Jennie said...

The pool sounds like some serious fun and kudos for thinking far enough in advance to get a desk while you were here in the midst of packing up your house.

colorado mom said...

You mean it only took ONE kid to replace me??? I'd like to know how you two did it, since we couldn't even get it a fraction of an inch off the floor! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PATRICK!

Marliese said...

What a perfect celebration, in your "perfect" new neighborhood. And look at your girls jump off the diving board! What great swimmers...

Kathy@DandelionsandDustBunnies said...

You remember the pool in Walnut Hills close to our house? Oh we loved that pool and the many memories we made there. I even lifeguarded there one summer after my second year of college. Those girls are gonna love going to the pool next summer.

The Dahle Family said...

I'm glad mom could help assemble it! Happy Birthday, Patrick! So, are we gonna get together this Sunday to celebrate with him and his carrot cake? Huh?

Stephanie@Soggy Runner Girl said...

Looks like fun!!! Hey when it Boulder Boulder? I think that would be a fun race to run. Wanna do it with me?

merathon said...

Mom-- I can't BELIEVE you actually commented on my blog! seriously, i'm shocked-- didn't even realize it was YOU at first!

monette-- patrick doesn't like sharing his carrot cake!

steph-- Bolder Boulder is always on Memorial Day and i'll totally do it with you! you guys should all come out-- that would be so much fun! (our kids are already out of school for the year by then and it's the grand re-opening weekend of the pool, which is being completely redone!)

colorado mom said...

Belated Happy Birthday, Patrick