L to R -Lauren (Greg and Doreen’s youngest daughter), Doreen (Greg’s kind and funny wife!), Sylvia (John’s super sweet wife), Aunt Lou (smart and big of heart), me (looking chunky and older than I’d like), and Amy (John and Sylvia’s daughter).

Following an awesome feast and visit with my family in San Diego, Jerry, Matt, and I headed back to Mission Viejo, where Matt collected Ms Yuki who been waiting patiently for our return, and headed back to his place. Once Matt and Ms Yuki were on their way home Jerry and I headed over to our long time friends Steve and Jill. A delicious dinner was enjoyed at their house, followed by a small celebration for their youngest son Alex’s 22nd birthday!

It’s hard to believe Alex is 22 years old. Jill, Steve, Jerry and I have been celebrating our children’s birthday’s together since Alex and Patrick were wee little folk! Up next for a birthday celebration? Matt in June, who will turn 28! Yikes!

This year we dined at Lucille’s, and our son Matt joined us. The food was plentiful and delicious. You may wonder why I didn’t use photoshop on this particular photo to correct Terry’s eyes. In actuality I did. He just occassionaly gets a wee bit of the pirate in him that even a fancy program can’t fix!

We came home to extend the birthday celebration a bit longer with a cake and presents. Cake toppers are kind of Terry and my department. This year for Karen we found a small Belle figure, and for Jerry I brought out of his own personal archives Ken, the street fighter character from a Nintendo game. After cake and ice cream, we opened gifts, which ended up including a couple of awesome blu-ray discs for Jerry. Steve and Jill gave Jerry one on the coral reefs so we all settled in and were awed not only by the quality of blu-ray HD but also by the new TV that we have! The movie was good too!

Earlier in the day Matt came down with his new bike and Yuki. We have some wonderful trails out here that make for great bike riding and Matt was able to get in a good 1/2 hour bike ride before we headed out to eat.

While this photograph turned out a bit blurry I still had to post it to show Ms Yuki sitting by grandpa. She came and did this on her own, she’s slowly warming up to him and it’s wonderful to see. We always love having Matt and Yuki down for a visit.

We go there often enough that everyone knows us, Holden, the manager always comes around and likes to chat, and Patricia is such a sweetheart. They are very good to us and their hamburgers and buns are the best in town.

After we ate we went into the back room where once a month they set up a stage for open mike night, which they do once a month. It ‘s fun to watch the “young” talent, there was a pretty good turnout last night. Either Patricia or Holden told the announcer there was a birthday boy in the house and everyone sang Jerry a happy birthday, then Patricia brought him out a brownie. Talk about pampered and spoiled. Yes, it’s not a stretch to say that Patricia has a soft spot for my hubby! And I can see why, he’s very special. Happy Birthday sweetheart!

Karen’s husband Terry also joined in the festivities, shown in a more subdued un Disney-like moment! (jk).

Patrick, being his usual fun self, decided to keep the party lively by shooting off straw papers. Pat sent some flying herself, but thankfully that wasn’t documented by the family photographer, Pat and Jerry’s son Matt.

Jill’s other half/husband Steve and their youngest son Alex were also at the table, as was Pat’s husband Jerry, although he managed to stay outside the cameras range.

The most excellent waitress who served our table caught wind of the birthday festivities and brought a chocolate cake to Pat and Patrick. Matt being the ever great son and photographer snapped off a nice pic of his mom. Thanks son!

Back at the house another cake was lit to the point of fire while Matt took more mandatory photos for the albums!

Again Patrick being the comedian, kept us laughing while Matt kept snapping. sweet

And yes Yuki was front and center whether she liked it or not, while everyone gathered round while presents were opened.

I’d like to send out a big thank you to my most awesome family, my husband who’s always there for me, through ups and downs no questions asked always supporting me, and my son Matt, who is a 1 in a million son. My friends are awesome too, thank you everyone for a wonderful bd that stretched beyond 1 day, and meant a lot to me. Patrick, I loved sharing it with you. We might have started a tradition. Next year we could celebrate ours on your day! (thus putting off getting another year older for a few more weeks!)

It must have been meant for me to have a good time, something I usually have at Disneyland anyway. While the crowds looked heavy from the outside and the parking looked ominious while I was I was waiting, once I got into the park the amount of people actually there was less than expected. Characters were out in abundance so I got to pick and choose with whom I would have a photo snapped with, single rider options made entering rides a snap, and cast members greeted me right and left cheerfully with “Happy Birthday Pat” which only aided in my good mood. I decided to do exactly as I desired and went on rides at random, rested as needed and basically wore myself out. A hot epsom salts bath was drawn once I arrived home, a coconut rum and coke joined me as company and I looked forward to viewing my photos once I dried my weary body off. Later that evening my sweet hubby took us out to eat at Fuddruckers where I was a birthday girl once again and ate exactly what I wanted, a fat juicy hamburger, onion rings and yes Patricia (our favorite employee at Lake Forest Fuddruckers) a vanilla shake. I may be a “plain girl” girl on the outside but on the inside I’m anything but plain. I’m 56 and bound and determined to enjoy my life!

Alex got not one but two birthday cakes this year! Happy 21st birthday Alex. We love you!