Birthday Weekend Part Uno

I love it when my birthday actually falls on Labor day. Because everyone gets a long weekend, there's a cookout, and we're all in a good mood.
Tim took the day off on Friday and we got some things caught up around the house. We went down to Home Depot and got the paint for the deck (which we might not get to painting until next summer at this point) because they had a deal--buy five gallons and get $40 back via mail-in rebate. Then we stopped at Burger King on the way home and used a coupon to get too much food for the 3 of us for $10. They have a fancy soda machine in Burger King, and we gave Evelyn carbonated water with grape flavoring. She thought she was getting soda. And she fell asleep in the car on the way home, so we didn't have to go through the whole bedtime routine.
Yesterday Mom came up and we went out shopping. We stopped by the mall, the Rockvale outlets, the National Christmas Center (which was a bit of a let-down), and a little toy shop before heading back home. We came back with a lot of baby clothes :P
Yesterday evening, Tim surprised me with some marbled cheesecake brownies, cards, and a gift (since we have plans today and tomorrow). He put 29 candles in the brownies, which glowed a little bright for my liking:P Evelyn helped me blow them out.

Tim and Evelyn gave me two very nice cards. Evelyn helped me unwrap my present, which was Tim's quarter collection. When they were issuing the state quarters, he tossed them all into a jar as he found them in his pocket, whether he had one for that state already or not. He ordered me a new cell phone since mine has been so troublesome, and used his quarter collection to help fund the purchase. (I will have the coins counted and exchanged for a gift card to use on groceries at Giant to offset the cost of the phone on the credit card).

This morning, Tim let me sleep in. When I came downstairs, he was playing Guitar Hero while Evelyn watched. It was very entertaining to watch Evelyn "rock out" to the songs she liked. She spins in circles and waves her arms. The kid has moves:P I would have gotten pictures, but I was too busy giggling at her.
Then Tim got to work on the dishes from last night. Evelyn helped:

Now we're getting ready for company. Evelyn is napping and Tim is getting the grill ready. Dad and Keri are coming by to visit this afternoon. More later:)