Landon's 40th Birthday

My husband turned 40 this week. (That's right: I'm 9 months older than him).  24 hours before the big day I had nothing planned.  With some helpful comments from y'all, I think we were able to make his day special.

 By request: a made-from-scratch German Chocolate Cake

(tasted soooo good; better than it looks here.  I wish I was a food photographer.)

 40 helium balloons with notes attached listing 40 things we love about him.

 Henry and Ethan helped me come up with the list.  Things like: "He's good at throwing things", "A good artist", "The way you sing during Family Home Evening",  "Good with tools",  "Pays us for picking up walnuts".

I came up with things like:  "Always shares his food at restaurants" (we've had to work at that over the years),  "Articulate", "Remembers everything he reads", "Makes us feel safe",  "Honors his priesthood", "Has great forearms".

And we made a candy bar poster which the boys have been only too willing to help eat.  Henry was particularly delighted to learn there's a candy bar with his name on it.

I also gave him a Kindle (which I ordered the day before and had it shipped overnight).  We have a trip to Mexico planned and I thought it would be great to load with some vacation novels.  He gave me a Kindle earlier in the year and I don't want to share.

 Ethan didn't have school the day after Landon's birthday, so Landon took the day off and Henry sluffed preschool.

 We went up the canyon for breakfast at Silver Fork Lodge.  Sitting on the deck overlooking the changing trees drinking hot chocolate felt so celebratory.  Henry got stung by a bee at breakfast.  Darn it.

 Then we hiked up to Dog Lake.  It was stunning scenery and gorgeous weather.

It all made for a wonderful birthday for Daddy.