Steven's Birthday (9/5/13

Steven's 35th Birthday was pretty fun this year! I wanted to somehow help him celebrate it all day long. We started out making a yummy breakfast for him.

The kids have him a card telling them each one thing they would do to make him happy (stop sucking thumb from Alton, movie with Dad from Hunter, Kailyn keeping her room clean for a week. Kinley promised to make him smile every day). They were really proud of their "gifts".  Then, knowing Steven and I would be out on a date for the evening, we did his Birthday cake for breakfast. A little different, but fun too! one of his favorite candies is Good & Plenty, so I tried to make a cake to look like the candy box. it didn't exactly turned out how I had planned, but it was still fun to do for him.  

Someone is enjoying the cake!

After that, Steven wanted something yummy for his work staff, so I luckily got to pick up one of his favorites, Jimmy John's Sandwiches and eat them at the office with his staff. Kinley had more fun with the pickles and chips. It was super fun to see him in the middle of the day! Happy Birthday to me too!!!!

Then around 5pm, are neighbor came over to watch the kids and another friend came over with their truck, so we could take out on our real Birthday adventure, kayaking down the Salt River. I know, just the two of us! Imagine that!  It had been years (pre-kids) since this had occurred. We had a little nervous energy, but it was super fun! We saw 3 wild horses (the salt river borders in Indian reservation, so you never know what wild animals you will see), 2 skunks, 3 cows, hundreds of birds (cranes, hawks, vultures - probably smelling us), and much more. Long story short, it got dark on us. I could see Steven's silhouette in front of me, but we ended up missing our get out point, where our car was, and randomly seeing the highway, so headed toward it. We found a little area of back (much of it was grown up reeds), climbed up the steep embankment with our kayaks and began to hike back to our car, walking along the highway. It was a little unnerving, especially with such utter darkness all around us and know reflectors on us. Eventually, the kayaks were killing my fingers, so we decided to let me run ahead to find the car and I would come back. All I remember was praying really hard to be safe, hoping that no coyotes would come around or that a car would stop. Where would I run to? In the moment when I really wanted to cry, I saw our white car. Whew! What a crazy adventure. Once I got to Steven, I gave him a large picture of Washington kneeling by his (one that Steven had always admired), all while parked with our hazards on at the side if the highway. We then made our way back to the house, snuck the kayaks in the yard, raced off to get ice-cream. I told Steven that I guessed he would never forget this Birthday and he said 30 minutes with me is always an adventure. Not sure how to take that, but will take it positively! Smiles!!!