Thanks a million for the kind words. He's a great little man. To hell with ER, a great job, a big house or getting to kick the crap out of a bad financial planner with no legal repercussions. This is what lifes all about. He *is* the meaning.
Pics tomorrow. Dad is pretty much destroyed after cooking, service and cleaning up after 15 adults and 5 kids. Standing rib roast with my own special au jus and home-made REAL horseradish sauce, a sweet potato casserole a la scalloped potato made with sliced sweets, onions, milk, nutmeg, fresh thyme and a lot of grated long aged parmesan, blanched green beans, microgreen salad with a 'fresh salad bar' of sliced ancilliary ingredients and a vinaigrette made from homemade apple vinegar (thanks to my dad), a little aged balsamic, walnut oil, some fresh herbs and garlic.
Finished up with rocky road and a chocolate cake that I heard was to die for. I still havent had a slice... I was on my second dishwasher load and scrubbing pans at the time. At least three husbands went home getting further instructions on their new responsibilities. When the (cousins wife) had to forgo her dinner to feed her 4 month old, and I had her dinner rewarmed and augmented by the time she came out, I think I created a lot of near future domestic problems. I probably didnt help by asking "If thats not what you're up for, I can make a nice organic whole wheat crust pizza with some mushrooms, garlic, feta cheese and artichokes, or I can warm up some of the ham, lentil, pinto bean and collard green soup I made yesterday...". To hell with prenups...be braggable about and its not an issue
I took some very, very cool photos of Gabe eating his first slice of birthday cake. we just gave it to him in his high chair and let him have at it. A high degree of nasal frosting induction occurred. Will post them tomorrow...as when I was settling in with the Mrs. for the evening I stepped on Ted lying unexpectedly in the dark in the hallway with a full glass of wine in my hand. Expecting to end up head first in a wall or something more delicate being damaged, the dog and I did a nice 45 second dance in the hallway where I probably resembled a one armed wallpaper hanger using fast dry glue for the first time. Threw out my back and have at least 5 more muscles that aint happy. No, that isnt one of them. So in the AM after some alleve and a hot bath, i'll fire up the main computer and pull in some photos.
The look on gabies face when a bazillion people sang 'happy birthday' to him was precious. Not particularly scared, not particularly happy, just very very curious as to why everyone was singing at HIM!.
Crap, I need a glass of wine and a painkiller. Anyone else?