There was a birthday in the Stephens household which is always exciting for everyone involved. We really try to celebrate birthdays well by having a party, eating lots of "birthday goodness", getting fun and thoughtful gifts, etc., etc. In the last couple years we have really tried to use birthdays to celebrate the unique life of each family member. The thought process really started with how we approach Christmas because Christmas is a birthday celebration afterall. And while it is fun and appropriate to give gifts to each other on Christmas it seems the hype and materialism has really taking over and switched the focus from the birthday boy to the gift givers. So at Christmas we celebrate Christ's birth first and foremost. And on our birthdays we celebrate ourselves, or really the life that God has given us.
Often times our birthday celebrations stretch out over a few days and mine was no exception.
Mine started with a litttle ice cream cake and gifts while in South Carolina last week. Then kicked into high gear on the 5th. Savannah was pretty excited herself because "birthday" to her does not mean the day you were born, it means PARTY! Needless to say she was excellent at party shopping and decorating. She did have one nagging concern however, "Daddy didn't have any friends." When she realized we had not invited other friends over she grew worried about how fun my birthday would be. Her worry quickly subsided when the focus turned to the "chocolate caaa - aa - ake." Somehow in her excitement she can turn cake into a three syllable word.
Woohoo! Candles are adding up.
Always willing to be the taste tester.
Someone didn't save room for cake. But he sure enjoyed the queso dip and beans.
CANDYLAND!
Okay, it wan't a gift but you can't have a party without games.
Savannah's first suggestion was "Pin the Tail on Something"
After the french toast lunch special and the fajita dinner and the party and the ice cream and the cake (aka birthday goodness) it was a very full day. But that was not all of the surprises. Sue wisely had not told Savannah what my gift was because as you can imagine she is not exactly Fort Knox when it comes to birthday surprises. For the past two weeks I had been asking Savannah to buy me a Jeep Wrangler with two kayaks on top. She promised me she would get it for me and I have no doubt she was sincere.
Fortunately Sue was there to help her out and she got me a great birthday present...a Saturday afternoon of kayaking around Tybee Island! We rented a tandem sit on top kayak from North Island Surf and Kayak on Lazeretto Creek at the mouth of the Savannah River. And since it was my birthday Sue even stopped and read the historical marker for me by the marina (Lazaretto history).
I have been wanting to get out on the water here for a while but that can be tough to do with two small kids. Sue had a couple sitters lined up for the morning and afternoon. It was a beautiful sunny day in the 80's with a gentle breeze on the water. We had a great time exploring Lazeretto Creek and the sound at high tide and even had a little beach to ourselves for a lunch break. It felt like our own little island.
Just getting started in the morning. No gator sightings in marshes.
Now this says, "Relax, its your birthday"
Boating around Cockspur Lighthouse. Its surrounded by water except at the lowest tide. The water was too high to tie up and climb the stairs this day. Maybe another time.
Calm and beautiful (wife and weather)
All in all it was a wonderful birthday celebration. Here's looking forward to next year (and 30 years).
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