50

In spite of my best efforts, I had another birthday on Friday. This one was a pretty big number and something of a milestone for me. All I can say is that it was one more than 49 and one fewer than 51.

I don't know how I got here. Where has the time gone? Emotionally, I feel like I'm about half that age at best; meanwhile, my body feels like it is 20 or 30 years older than that.

Anyhow, JB spoiled me rotten. She took me out to lunch at Penny Ann's Cafe in Bountiful, one of our favorite new local restaurants, where we always seem to get breakfast food, no matter the time of day. Apparently, if you tell your server that it's your birthday, they will bring you a free scone to accompany your meal.

JB also took painstaking time and effort to collect recorded video birthday greetings from family members, a few close friends (Pepe and Darren), and myriad members of the Improvables. It was very well put together and was very touching. I'm truly blessed to have wonderful people in my life.

Finally, many of the same people from that video congregated at our house that evening for karaoke, featuring also pumpkin cheesecake, chips, and other snacks.

At one break in the action, I caught Danny taking the pumpkins only from JB's bowl of candy corn treats. (The thing is, I also do this.)

The partygoers picked out "Weird Al" Yankovic's "One More Minute" for me to sing. I accepted. Ben, Steve, and I collaborated on Mr. Big's "To Be with You." Many of the niblings got in on the act, and I even convinced JB to sing "That Thing You Do!", which is of course the title track of one of our favorite movies.

We ended the evening by watching BYU play West Virginia in college football. The Cougars beat the Moutaineers, 38-24.

Surprise Birthday Party

I had another birthday this weekend. In spite of my best efforts, they keep happening each year. Such is life.

Anyhow, my wonderful wife organized a surprise party for me when I returned home from work Friday night. She had invited my mom and siblings and their spouses over for a karaoke party, something I've wanted to do since the Karaoke Cafe closed a few years ago (the place where my birthday parties used to be held, and also, not coincidentally, the site of JB's and my first date).

In addition to inviting the guests and providing the refreshments, JB also baked us a chocolate and peanut butter cake for everyone to enjoy together (one of my favorite creations of hers).

I got to spend the rest of the weekend being instructed by the living prophets, seers, and revelators of the Church at another amazing general conference. Earlier today, we went out to Grantsville to watch the Sunday afternoon session with JB's parents and some of her siblings/niblings, for which she made us even more cake.

I'm enormously blessed with great people in my life, and as cruddy as the year 2020 has been, I'm looking forward to what the next year may bring.

Family Dinner/September 2017

At September family dinner, we also celebrated our September birthdays. (Like you do.) In this case, the cake was for Biz and her alone. Hooray to another year on this planet!

Our family parties often include karaoke, and let's be honest: Karaoke makes everything that much better. Even the kids get in on it, and they have a great time.

Steve and Danny had a little father-son bonding time with the TV:

And everyone had a great time, all told.

Danny's Second Birthday Party

At August family dinner two Sundays ago, we celebrated my nephew Danny's second birthday:

They grow up far too fast, huh?

Among the many gifts given, a big hit (at least for the birthday boy and his two-year-old cousin Kate) was this tunnel:

We also broke out the karaoke. Kate entertained us all with a rendition of the song "Belle" from this year's live-action remake of Disney's Beauty and the Beast:

Family, good food, and karaoke made for a great time indeed.

Family Karaoke Party

Fortunately, I belong to a family who, for the most part, enjoys karaoke as much as I do.

I recently purchased a karaoke machine, and Ben and Christian were good enough to perform a duet of "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music to be the first ones to break it in.

Danny's First Birthday Party

At tonight's monthly family dinner, we also celebrated Daniel's first birthday. His actual birthday is August 25, but with family dinner falling where it usually does, we made the adjustment accordingly.

Danny needed some help from Summer but was able to get the candle blown out on his cake.

Toy Story factored into the night, with the gifts of a Sheriff Woody hat and a Toy Story 2 DVD given.

In addition, we broke in the karaoke machine I recently purchased, and I'd say it was a big hit with everyone. The kids especially enjoyed the opportunity to sing some of their favorite songs.