Darcy turns 40!

We had a semi-surprise birthday party for Darcy's 40th birthday. Darcy knew we were having a party, she didn't know that we were making it a 1968 theme. Most people dressed the part, with a few going well beyond and making it a great time. We decorated the outside of the house with palms, built a "temporary" bar in the street and had a "Darcy Trivia" contest, with the winner getting a gift certificate to Starbucks (the winner, Julie Hagen). Darcy's parents came down and so did her sister. It was a great time and the "temporary"bar is now a "mobile" bar that will be wheeled to anywhere in the neighborhood where a party is hosted. Everybody had a great time and when I turn 40 I want the same thing for me.

Monday Night Pizza

Luke and I continue with a tradition of " Monday Night Pizza. It has been 4-5 years for us and it is a gathering of a few dads and their children. No moms. I'd say that the group started 7-8 years ago with the Theule family. My mother shows up when she is in town as a "special exception." to the "No Moms" rule. I just happened on this picture of one of the past nights when our friends, the Michaels, still lived here. The highlight is when the 7:00 PM train goes by at high speed. We've been doing this for years, but it is still amazing to have a train speeding by, 6 feet away from you at 60 miles per hour. Jeff Steffen and his children are the longest ranking member of the group now since Chad Theule and his family moved up north. When I pulled up this picture, the best part is Jeff's son, Judah, on the bottom right, shuddering from the speed of the passing train. We eat Pizza at Pizza Port in Carlsbad. We head either to the "train" park, or in the summer, down near the beach. Then to Starbucks for some drinks and checkers for the kids. Nothing really special, but a time every week when dads get to spend time with their kids and the moms get some free time. If you're wondering, Hannah "opted" out a few years ago as she was the oldest and didn't want to go anymore. Now that Luke is the oldest, I'm wondering when he'll want to stop going, but he still looks forward to it every Monday. We have a special football that we only use on Mondays and we keep it in my car so we won't forget it. When he starts to get tired of it we have him bring a friend. The real question is, when he stops coming, where will I find another kid to bring with me so that I can still go?