We celebrated Jason's birthday early with my side of the family, due to Dad going out of town. We began the Sunday relaxing, sleeping in, and just lounging around the house. After getting ready for the day and playing with kittens, we prepared for a glorious birthday celebration with the McCune side of our family.
Below are memories from the fun evening with family. They ordered pizza from partners and they got Jason a special marble cake with Neapolitan ice cream. Mom and dad also got Jason a really nice birthday card with an elephant on it--it was super cute! Their gift helped purchase Jason's new camera lens. He was very excited! It will be a big help for our vacation and anniversary trips.
Below is a video of the cake being brought out. Poor Jason was having sinus issues--hopefully he could hear all the singing. His ears kept popping.
August 17, 2016
Jason's actual birthday! We began the day like any other normal day--working. Jason drove to the college park station, then hopped on the train to downtown Atlanta, and walked to his office. I drove to my office 15 minutes away. Both of us were just waiting for time to pass until we could celebrate his birthday. We made a plan for me to drive up and meet him outside his work at 5 O'clock. From there we would eat at an Irish Pub called Ri Ra. We had eaten at this pub once before--we were dating at the time and I surprised Jason's with a special birthday dinner there. He loved it, so we thought we'd go back.
Before dinner, I had some surprises I wanted to do for Jason. During my lunch break I drove to Party City and purchased some decorations and a massive balloon. Then I went to kroger and bought the ingredients for a special birthday cake I wanted to make him. I drove home and quickly began baking the cake (I had two hours to cook it, let it cool, and decorate it before I had to leave). As the cake was baking, I decorated the house. I put up green streamers in the living room and a sign in brown butcher paper that read "It is your birthday." This was a funny joke from the show "The Office." I knew he'd love it.
I was running around the house wrapping his gift, decorating, and checking to see if the cake layers had cooled sufficiently. Finally I realized I had 20 minutes left and needed to shower. I was dressed and ready to go when I realized I had just 5 minutes left to decorate the cake. I hurried in the kitchen and began icing away--the cake was just the right temperature by this time! Unfortunately, I wasn't able to put the strawberries I wanted on the cake. I had run out of time. I left it as it was and hurried toward the car.
I drove to Atlanta an hour before Jason was to be off work. Although there was traffic and I had been running late, I arrived 5 minutes before 5. Jason had left a little early so he could meet me as I drove up. I never actually made it to his work. Jason called me as I got closer to his job--he walked toward me as I drove toward him. Eventually he saw me at a stoplight and just hopped in the car. It was perfect! We drove around Atlanta as he showed me his new job, where he ate lunch, the homeless people he met on a regular basis, etc. Then, we turned right on a street that said there was parking. We never found a parking garage but we did see a parallel parking spot that just happened to be right next to Ri Ra. We didn't even plan it--it was perfect! We parked, paid the meter, and walked in.
The restaurant was just as lovely as it was the last time we visited. Cozy, wooden benches and tables. We ordered and had a lovely meal. Jason looked truly relaxed and happy. It has been a stressful year for him especially--with changing jobs and adjusting to a new schedule. It was nice to see how big of a smile he had that day.
Our Smoked Salmon on Irish soda bread with Irish butter.
Jason's Turkey, cheese, and apple sandwich with brussels sprouts.
My potato soup and soda bread.
After dinner, we headed home. I was ecstatic! Jason had no idea about anything, other than that I bought him a gift. We drove to the College Park train station so he could pick up his car. I told him to drive slow and not drive like a demon like he normally does--he got a good laugh about that. I was hoping to get home before he did so I could put some finishing touches on the cake. I also had made a list of reasons for why I love him on some sticky notes and wanted to put them on the bathroom mirror as a surprise. Luckily, I got home about 2 minutes before he did, just enough time to add strawberries to the cake. He went to the bathroom immediately when he got back, so I was able to put the sticky notes up in the other bathroom. It was perfect.
Once settled, I showed him the cake and we enjoyed a slice. We lit 29 candles and he made a wish--he never lets me know what he wishes for.
The surprise was the inside of the cake! I made him a matcha cake! He loved it!!
Fred was terrified of the fire!
So old I couldn't see him through the smoke!
After cake, he opened his gift. I told him to go into the bedroom for it--the cats would have ripped the balloon up if it had been anywhere else in the house.
Food dehydrator! He loved it!!
Jason's surprise sticky notes.
It was quite a successful night! Happy birthday, my love!!
I have to add--I took off work the next day so I could stay up late and celebrate with him. The next morning looked a little something like this:
August 20, 2016
Jason's third birthday celebration! Jason's parents wanted to take us out to McKendrick's Steak House for his birthday. It was just lovely! The food was amazing and the company wonderful! I unfortunately didn't get many pictures of the food, but trust me--it was amazing! Jason ordered the salmon and I the french onion soup. We also split their mac and cheese with lobster in it. All was amazing! Then they brought him out a beautiful slice of birthday cheesecake! Perfect evening!
After dinner we drove back to Pam and Jerry's, where they then gave Jason his birthday gift. Below is a picture of it... the picture doesn't do it justice--the detail is just beautiful.
Such a thoughtful and wonderful gift! Chris is so talented!
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