Damien Turns 36!

My Husband.  Amazing.  Funny.  Caring.  Cute.  Strong.  Smart.  All Mine.

Yep, my hubby is another year older and another year more loved!  It has been quite the birthday week for him.  First, gifts from my family.  Then, a party and celebratory breakfast in Healdsburg, and now- a night at Dave and Busters with the kids and his childhood friend Derek and his wife, Lindy.

We had the greatest time at Dave and Busters!  It has been years since we have been there and this was the first time the kids have been there (at least since they can remember).  If you have never been there, it is basically a video game/ carnival game heaven!  Skee ball, horse races, pop-a-shots, air hockey, classic video games and so much more!  There is also a restaurant where you can get some pretty good food!  The kids went from game to game and had smiles on their faces the whole time!  Michael won a 500 ticket jackpot, our entire family played six person Dayton 500, Emily managed not to seriously maim anyone while hurling the Skee balls sideways, while Matthew and Claire battled each other at the horse races.  It was so much fun!!!

Back in college, Damien and Derek used to battle each other in Street Fighter.  I have heard more stories about it than you can imagine.  Seriously, more stories about Sagat, Ken, Chun-Li and the other fighters I know absolutely nothing about but nod my head in agreement that they are so cool!  Well, Damien and Derek found a Street Fighter game there and the battle was on.  Two grown men, staring at the screen without blinking, intense looks on their faces, while they moved their hands on the controls faster than I thought was humanly possible.  This only stopped when one of them would let out a HUGE scream, turn to the other, pump their fists, and rub their victory in the other's face.  I loved it.  These two, suddenly fifteen years younger, transported to their dirty college living room, procrasting a ten page paper only to have Sagat take down Ken in a dominating fashion.  Yep, that about sums it up.

After dinner, we came home and had some of Damien's favorite cake and opened some gifts.  We celebrated New Years based on east coast time, threw Pop It's in the backyard and fired off a few fake fireworks before we sent the kids to bed and enjoyed some adult time with our friends. 

Happy Birthday, Damien.  You are loved by so many.  You sincerely brighten the lives of more people than you know.  You are a hero to our kids and continue to love us in all ways we didn't even think possible.  You are my best friend and I love that I could hang out with you for days and never grow tired of you.  I hope the year ahead brings you continued health, many blessings, and much laughter from your kids that love you so much!  Happy Birthday!!!