And You Smell Like One Too!

So yesterday was the Elfling's birthday and it seems today's title was our battle cry of the day. No longer is the traditional birthday song good enough for this family - we sing birthday ala Futurama!  It wouldn't be complete with that line, as added by Fry.  Ironically, my sister was subjected to the same raucousness exactly a month ago.  lol

Despite all the singing, the day was a pretty quiet one - we try to stay with the tradition of the birthday girl (or guy, I suppose) of having the dinner or restaurant of their choice.  The Elfling, of course, made a choice that E nixed right off the back because of his back.  Well, that and he doesn't particularly care for the place, but mostly, they have horrible chairs that are hell on his back.  I searched in vain for an acceptable substitution (for Chinese) and failed.  It really is sad how lacking we are in really, really good Chinese; though after the awesomeness of what was our favourite place in Sindelfigen, I'm not sure ANY place will ever reach such heights of amazing.  *sighs*

Plan B turned to Plan C when the (apparently) still brand new Cheddars was jam packed at the very beginning of dinner (we're talking, like, 5pm) so we wound up at the same place we did last year.  This is not a bad thing, given we all like steak and birthdays were made for streak.  Or Chinese.  I couldn't help but smile with the joy of the secret of the Elf's gift as she lamented about our house rule of "no zombie games".  But I also couldn't help but fondly contemplate her first birthday.

Her first birthday was also on a Saturday Never mind...her birthday was NOT on a Saturday but we celebrated on a Saturday...Or maybe it was Friday...or Halloween.  Regardless, at that point E was in the Navy - we'd been living in the Chicago area for less than a month and so our idea of a party for a one year old?  A pile of underage drinkers!  I made her cake that year, decorated with hand piped gel frosting frogs...maybe a smiling sun.  But definitely frogs.  I don't remember what toy(s) she got but I'll never forget the outfit.  It was 3 piece set of warm red and blue plaid pants, a white long sleeved shirt with a red and blue flower and a red and blue jacket.  Seriously cute!  Soon after cake and the crash that followed her sugar high, she was tucked into bed and the remaining party goers got drunk.  Good times...good times.

Thirteen years later, we're a bit beyond that.  It was a nice dinner out where everybody was too full on that addictive brown bread and appetizers to finish dinner and yet surprisingly not when it came time to drag out the cake.  Remember that house rule on no zombie games?  This year I mentioned it to E that just cause they scare the crap out of us, we don't have to play the game so why not get her one that she wants? 

My ears are still ringing from that excited scream she gave when she unwrapped Left for Dead.