This year Nathan was gone to a business seminar on his actual birthday. I gave him a hard time about how hard he wasn't working because he was just outside of San Diego (one of his favorite places to be). Although most of his day was full of work stuff, he did manage to get to a Padres baseball game. He also came home with a new SD Padres hat--a hard item to find this far north.
While Nathan was gone, the boys and I used the three days to work on a few surprises for him. The boys painted Nathan some big pictures to hang in his office. Daniel painted a picture of him with Nathan and a rocket. Liam's was a little more abstract--very colorful. Caleb had never really painted before but was thrilled at the chance. I stripped him down and put him in the kitchen sink with a big paper on the counter. Then I squirted a color or two at a time on his paper. He was grinning and giggling as he smeared the paint around with a big paintbrush. He even signed it with two handprints. It was really cute. After finishing their masterpieces, I told the boys that the pictures were a surprise and to keep them a secret from Daddy. Right on cue, Nathan called and Liam promptly told him that he'd painted him a secret surprise. Oh well, I guess the surprise was seeing what they'd painted. The next day we took a ride to Nathan's office and hung the masterpieces. We also left a box of chocolates and a little basketball hoop and ball (the type that suctions to the window) for those days that require a little distraction. The boys had lots of fun hanging up Nathan's little boy and baby photos around the work break room. (Some of Nathan's coworkers, that we were totally disturbing, came in to visit with us. One friend pointed out that one of the pictures looks like a brown-haired Liam. I used to think Liam took after my side, but they were totally right!) I always enjoy all of Nathan's coworkers and I think we entertain them too. Several stopped by to chat while we decorated. They were really nice about the change in volume that accompanied my 3 boys at nap time. (I considered opening Nathan's chocolates just to fill Calebs mouth.) The boys wanted to tape up lots of balloons on the wall (which most likely fell down before we even made it back to our van--but it had to be just the way they wanted it for Daddy's birthday). That night on the phone Liam once again made sure Nathan knew there was a "surprise" painting, balloon, and pictures for him at his office. Then Daniel got on the phone and told Nathan that Liam was just teasing and there was no surprise--nice try Daniel. No secrets are safe in this house anymore. When Nathan returned home Daniel asked if he could go to work right then. (No matter that it was nearing the time he usually comes home.) The next day the boys had to call Nathan at work make sure he'd found everything. I know the surprise was meant for Nathan but the best part was how excited the boys got. It's exactly like they say, giving is better than receiving.
Every year I plan on throwing Nathan a big party with friends, but usually the size of our house limits the "party" to just a couple or two with some cake and ice cream. This year, thanks to the help of some amazing friends, I finally did it right. Nathan had told me that he wanted to play Rock Band with friends, so we reserved a church (thanks Sara and Steve) and invited everyone (a little too last minute--sorry) to come and eat and play. The guys came through (thanks Fabio, Kevin, and Sean) and set up two big projector screens and even rigged the sound system through the church speakers. With Metalica, The Beatles, Aerosmith, and some other individual artists, I think that we all heard/played something we liked. Everyone contributed to make a great (huge-delicious) dinnner buffet. The kids were all invited and they spent most of the evening playing together, watching a movie and running, running, running. Near the end of the evening we gave them a chance to rockout too. For Nathan's cake I made a life-size electric guitar. Nathan had a blast. What a great birthday. I have to mention that I was so impressed by all of you who stayed to help us clean up the church afterward. I'm sure it was left cleaner than we found it. (I think Will deserves a medal for vaccuuming the whole church--not just the areas we used, with the huge industrial size vaccuum.) I'm completely amazed by the caliber people that we are lucky enough to know. Thanks for making the birthday party so much fun. Let's get together to do it again soon. 
Each year we join Nathan for his annual work picnic. We did get a few pictures. (Unfortunately, Arnold isn't in any of them.--He hasn't shown up since Daniel was a baby.) Each year they have silly competitions for all of the units. Nathan's event was the relay race. I told the kids to cheer for Daddy's "RECO" team. I guess the cheering worked because they won the event--no other unit even came close. It was funny because even after RECO was done Liam kept the cheer for RECO going. My boys are definitely Daddy's biggest fans. 
The park where the picnic is held is right next door to Fairy Tale Land, so we also sneaked over to play there for a while. As always the ship, the crooked path, the Little Engine that Could (train), and the Old Woman's Shoe (slide) were the favorites!
