Happy Birthday to Dave!

This past week, we celebrated Dave’s 28th birthday! Happy birthday, sweetie! The first part of the day was a normal one. We just did the usual thing, and he went to work. That afternoon, we decorated our house with streamers, balloons, and signs. Emma and Cal got a kick out of that. Dave thought that was kind of fun!

Then we went to Fat Cats to ride the Bumper Cars, and play some games. Dave was relentless! Well...at least to me, there was no mercy, but he was nice to Emma and gently would cruise into her.

It took Emma a while to get into it, but after a while, she drove around like a pro!

Callahan loved all of the bright lights, buttons to push, and noises!

Here are the kids on the "American Ride" (Emma's always called it that, I don't know why...)

After that, it was off to Holy Smokes BBQ in Layton. We would highly recommend this to anyone who likes good barbeque. It was excellent food, and the service was great! We also ran into two couples that are friends of ours, the Harvey’s, and the Moen’s, so that was kind of a fun surprise.

Then we went home and did ice-cream, and played “Pin the Wheel on the 4-Wheeler” (Emma’s idea!).

Friday night, we had a combined birthday party for Dave and my brother, Mark, whose birthday is on April 8. We had lasagna and all the Italian sides, and one of my mom’s wonderful cakes, which we helped out with a little. She always makes such cute ones. We all sang to the boys, and then blew out the candles. Cal loves to “Blow”, which is one of the words he says. What can I say, he’s a pyro already?

We got Marko a Beta fish, because he’s always wanted one. I gave Emma some options of things to get him, and she wanted to get him a fish! Emma wanted to name it “Collar”, but Amber, Mark’s friend’s daughter, who’s also four, wanted to name it “Blue”. So Marko made a compromise and named it “Blue Collar”. He he! Cal absolutely loved the fish! He just wanted to watch it all day and would talk to it and wave at it and point to it! It was pretty cute!

On Sunday night, it was the Ryerse party. We had tacos, Ryerse style, for dinner and the classic green jello salad (Cool whip + green jello powder + crushed pineapple + cottage cheese). We sat around and talked and played for a while, then we went to the Bountiful 37th Ward 40 Year Birthday Party. Dave grew up in that ward, and so it was fun for him to go back and see some old friends and leaders and neighbors.

All around the room were pictures Paul Mann, a ward member had painted. Paul Mann does illustrations for the Ensign and other church publications. Often, he’ll use ward members to use as models for his art. Dave’s parents and some of his brothers were used (Dave never was…sad!), and so their paintings were up. I should’ve taken a picture of it, but I didn’t.

Here are the girls enjoying some cake! Emma got cake twice that night, and it showed! She was wired!

Cal wanted a ballon the whole time and was so excited when he finally got one!

Dave’s dad, Dan, served as Bishop for five years and was released a couple of years ago. All of the bishops that had served were there, so they got together for a photo-op. Dave's Dad and Mom are the third couple from the left.

Back at the Ryerse home, we had cake and ice-cream, and then watched “Pete’s Dragon”, one of Dave’s favorite movies. Here's his cake, one of his nicknames is "Hoss"!

Daddy and Cal blowing out the candles!

Happy birthday, to my 28 year-old babe! You get better with age! I love you!