Happy 31st Daddy!

Yesterday, sweet Matty-Matt turned 31! I am a big fan of making birthdays special and in some way different from every other day. This year, Matt's birthday wasn't anything spectacular (other than the fact that this was the day that my baby love was brought into this world), but it did seem to be an easy-going nice day.

Austin Collie's Colts Jersey - Matt is a HUGE fan! From Matt's parents (w/ a little idea help from me).

Matt had to round at work in the morning and as soon as he got home it was present time! Carter asked if he could unwrap Dad's present. We said sure as soon as Dad gets changed out of his scrubs. Carter must have only heard the first part, because in less than a minute I heard Carter running down the stairs yelling to Dad what was in the wrapped (now unwrapped) package. Luckily, I was able to grab Carter and pull him back up stairs before Matt heard him.

This book is from my parents, Remembering Kirtland, along with some birthday mula.

Next we went off to breakfast at our favorite Pittsburgh breakfast joint Pamela's. Oh delicious! And as birthday luck would have it, I think this is the best Pamela's has ever tasted to us.


Matt receiving birthday wishes from family and friends. And how fitting that he would be making the Joe Lowry Jr face seeing as he is on the phone with Joe Lowry Jr himself.

After breakfast, Matt met up with a buddy and went and test drove BMWs. It got Matt even more excited for his own that he will be getting in a little over 70 days.

Next came the birthday dinner: Steak, broccoli and mashed potatoes. A true Nielsen feast, and OH MY was it delish! Matt is one heck of a grill master.

Then came the birthday cake. Matt really wanted ice cream cake. He would have loved his mom's cake roll, but when it comes to things like Heavenly Potatoes and cake roll Matt has learned I am NOT his mother. We got this cake roll at Baskin Robbins. I was planning on picking it up while Matt was test driving BMW's but that is when Hayden decided to nap. So Matt came with us to get his cake. Hayden was crying in the car and Carter would have demanded everything in the store so we decided I would stay in the car so Matt could pick out exactly what he wanted. The guy at the store asked Matt if he wanted something written on the cake. After writing, "Happy Birthday, Matt" on the cake, Matt handed him his credit card to pay for it. The guy after seeing Matt's name on the CC said, "Oh geez, you have to pay for your own cake." I definitely felt like I let Matt down. But Matt came back with, "My wife is out in the car with two screaming kids so I think I got the better end of the deal." Thanks Matt for sticking up for me, even though I still feel bad about it. But the most important thing was that the cake was yummy yum! (Oh yeah, I also forgot I was out of birthday candles, yikes I am loosing my touch!)

Despite all my flaws and how hard being a Dad of two and husband to a demanding wife can be, Matt still comes home everyday with a smile and excited to be with us. He works so hard from early morning to late at night, but instead of coming home and parking himself on the couch, he kisses me, gets smiles out of Hayden and wrestles with his boy. When we got married we received excellent advice of putting everything on the altar. I know that Matt has done that for us and for that we are eternally grateful.