Mike's 59th

We started celebrating on Sunday when Mike's brother John took us all out to Olive Garden. Mike had lasagna, even though I told him I'd make it for him on his actual birthday! On that day, all the kids (except Jamie, who had to work) joined as at a local diner. Mike got his favorite--a good hamburger! I love that my husband is a man of simple tastes.

The kids gave him a gift card to Home Depot and I gave him a boxed set of CDs to listen to "Game of Thrones" in his car. I think he had a nice birthday!

Mike at Olive Garden.

Little Visitors

I was very privileged to see a Mama Raccoon and her two darling babies the other night! I was only able to snap a quick picture of them, since I had to put Shadow in Nicky's room. He tends to get crazy when he sees raccoons and I didn't want to scare the babies. I even woke up Mike but alas, by the time he got to the sliding doors, they were gone. I hope they come back again!

Mike's Gifts

Here are the gifts we gave Mike for Father's Day:

Father's Day

Mike had a nice Father's Day today. He started with a seafood feast at his brother's house, then enjoyed some Cannoli Cake here at home. The kids gave him an awesome present, a DeWalt radio. It has all kinds of bells and whistles. It's meant to be a job-site radio, which means it should last virtually forever. I think he'll really enjoy it.

I gave him a can of pistachio nuts that I refashioned after an idea I've seen around the net. Not as fancy as the kids' gift, but we are at a point in life where we don't do extravagant gifts. He got a big kick out of it and I know he'll enjoy both the pistachios (with a place to throw the shells) and the radio! He deserves it--no set of kids could have a better father!

It is the story of my life that I have misplaced my camera, so I will post pictures of the gifts another time.

Nick is 23!

My youngest, Nick, is 23 years old as of June 12th. Hard to believe! I was teasing him that he should have been born earlier in the month. He arrived 12 days after his due date!
Nick didn't want to go out to dinner, so he celebrated with a lobster I got for him. His brother, Jamie, steamed it for him over at the supermarket. (Jamie works behind the seafood counter.)

It's hard to get a picture of an adult kid without sneaking one (and I've already published the one with him looking so cute asleep with Shadow), so here is what he looked like 10 years ago:

Just imagine him with a shaved head and a beard and mustache!