Brad's birthday

Friday was Brad's birthday. The big one. Ok, not really "one"...but add 49 and you'll get it.

Anyway, he has definitely aged gracefully. When we met, I did not ever think of him as too much older than me. Maybe he's a kid at heart. Or maybe he's just that kind of guy. Regardless, he is wise beyond his (many) years. :P He is a great husband, a wonderful father, a best friend, and just an all around good guy. Who doesn't love Brad?

I hope you got a chance to watch the slideshow I did for him. That was his first surprise. If not, click that link above or go back down to the last post, and watch it! It's really good if I do say so myself. And if you don't know Brad too well, maybe you will feel like you know him a little better after watching. :)

He normally doesn't like to make a big deal of his birthdays, but he had no choice this year. It was a big one and we needed to do something for him. So we decided to have a party with family and a few close friends. And what you have to know here is that if asked, Brad will tell you...he doesn't have too many close friends. He has a lot of friends and acquaintances. But his close friends are his family. So that's what we did. We started off the day by him taking off work at lunchtime to enjoy a more private celebration with just us and his immediate family.

Here he is with his two favorite girls....

Sandie, Tara and Muna came over to bring some gifts and his one and only request - Muna's chocolate cake with white icing birthday cake that he has had every year of his life I assume.

Here he is while we watch him often his gifts...

He got a lot of nice things, but his next biggest surprise was getting an iPad from his mom and myself. Shocked much? :)

Then we gathered around, sung Happy Birthday to him (for the second time that day...the girls called and sang to him at work that morning), and had some of that delicious cake. :)

Later that evening, we headed to the second party for the day. We had a catered fajita dinner at Abuelo's where his family, his close friends, and his coworkers joined to help celebrate. Here's a copy of the invitation I did. I thought it turned out nice, so I wanted to share. (blocking out our phone numbers on the RSVP though)

The top part says,

"Say it ain't so, Brad is gonna be the BIG 50!

He said, 'A party?, No way.'

But we decided we're having one anyway!

Please join us on his special day,

Brad's only getting older day by day!"

And the quote at the bottom says, "To know how to grow old is the masterwork of wisdom, and one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of living" - Henri Frederic Amiel. And that is so perfect for Brad!

We decorated everything in gold and black at the restaurant and they were very accommodating and helpful.

I even brought up my computer and set it up to be able to play the slideshow for everyone. Hey, it's a Mac...and easy to do that. When I put it up, the waiter/helper guy asked, "where's the rest of the computer?" Ummm...this is it. It's a Mac. 'Nuff said. :)

Here are a few people watching the slideshow...

While waiting on the fajitas to come out, I read aloud the cards that the guests had filled out about Brad. Sent along with the invitations, I had made up these cards for everyone to fill out and bring with them.

There were just five questions to answer about Brad, such as your favorite thing about him, the funniest thing he ever did, 5 words about him, etc...

And again, another perfect quote for Brad at the bottom read, "The years between fifty and seventy are the hardest. You are always being asked to do things, and yet you are not decrepit enough to turn them down." - T.S. Eliot

It was quite entertaining to read what others thought about Brad. Even Brooke and Brenna answered questions about their dad. :)

Then, after the endless chips, salsa, and queso and the yummy fajitas, we had more cake!

Brad got lots more nice gifts, including his very own pot of gold! He is so thankful to have such wonderful friends and family to come and help him celebrate. We all had a blast and can't wait for the next 50 years with Brad!

Here are a few more pictures from the night...

Brad with his longest friend in life - Terry G. They've been friends since they were like 18 or something...
Brad in his crown of 50's...
Brad with his mom...


The kids had their own table...

Pot o' gold...

We love you Brad! And we hope that you had a fantastic birthday! :-)