A Campfire Dinner: Birthday Celebration Numero Tres

No, I didn’t learn how to count in Spanish from Bono. So what happened to numero dos? Jason’s second birthday bash was on his actual birthday and involved the two of us seeing the new Harry Potter flick and eating dinner at Café Trio, a darling little Italian place in Salt Lake City that is very reasonably priced. Rosemary flatbread topped with caramelized onions and a balsamic drizzle, served with goat cheese and roasted tomatoes and red peppers…need I say more? Jason and I had a lot of fun on this excursion and came home very full but since that is the extent of my comments regarding that particular outing, not exactly a post-worthy amount of information, I will skip to Jason’s third birthday party.

Some of the men doing manly things in the woods. I don't know what Jeremy was
Some of the men doing manly things in the woods. I don't know what Jeremy was doing...besides ruining my picture.

I painstakingly planned an evening at a campsite up in American Fork Canyon for Jason’s final birthday celebration. I invited some of our friends and family to join us for tinfoil dinners, grilled corn on the cob, s’mores, and hotdogs. Everyone brought their roasting sticks and camp chairs and we spent an evening under the stars around the toasty campfire.

Aimee, Liz, Kara, and Vinny
Aimee, Liz, Kara, and Vinny

Making tinfoil dinners for that many people was quite an operation. Those of you who have made these before know that all the ingredients have to be cut up into ridiculously tiny pieces in order to cook properly on the fire’s coals. I spent over four hours chopping fifty five red potatoes, roughly 30 pieces of bacon, 6 onions, and an entire Costco-size bag of baby carrots. I was happy with the resulting dinners though and everyone seemed to enjoy my recipe concoction.

The Sabin brothers: creepy aren't they?
The Sabin brothers. Creepy aren't they?

After dinner we sang happy birthday to Jason and his brother Jeremy, Jeremy’s birthday is just a few days after Jason’s, and gorged ourselves on yummy Dippidee cupcakes. I was utterly stuffed at that point – a sentiment that I believe was echoed by everyone present.

Jeremy and Jason blowing on their cupcakes. Despite how it looks, they weren't actually holding hands.
Jeremy and Jason blowing on their cupcakes. Despite how it looks, they weren't actually holding hands.

Many thanks to all of you who shared the evening with us and celebrated the commencement of another year in the life of a fantastic man. Happy birthday Jason!

Having a Birthday Ball

I know there are many that view birthdays as a nuisance, unavoidable reminders that we are constantly growing older and inching toward senility at a steady rate. While I acknowledge that I too am aging every day, I don’t see the point in mourning the inevitable. That’s why I choose to see birthdays as a celebration of life rather than just another step toward the grave.

This was the amazing cake my friend Robyn made.
The amazing cake my friend Robyn made
Big Max getting a few wallyball pointers
Big Max getting a few wallyball pointers
My sister-in-law Simone chilling
My sister-in-law Simone chilling

Since Jason shares my take on birthdays and my enthusiasm for revelry, that sweet boy planned a splendid birthday party in my honor. The festivities were held at My Noah’s, a business that rents rooms for such activities. Jason rented two rooms: a wallyball court and a combo ping pong/billiards room. These rooms were connected, making meandering easy. It was a great party! I enjoyed hanging with all my buddies and challenging them to wallyball and ping pong. (I’m far too horrible at pool to represent even a meager challenge in that department.) The wallyball competition was fierce, my swollen wrist and hand can attest to that, but I had a marvelous time. Thanks to all of you who attended and thanks to my awesome husband for scheming up the event!

The Reeds catching some pong
The Reeds catching some pong
Greg the paddle king
Greg the paddle king
Cindy and Wee
Cindy and Wee
Tom and Aimee
Tom and Aimee

It was a great way to commemorate another year of life! After all, I may be one more year older but it was a year full of grand adventures, good friends, and joyous memories; so what do I have to complain about?

Me and Jas
Me and Jas
Some of the boys...no that
Some of the boys...no that's not a chubby girl on the end, that's my brother with some sort of fancy baby pouch.
Me and Robyn with the fantastic cake she made
Me and Robyn with the fantastic cake she made

Fatten Up Your Fathers

Jason is not a father, nor do we have any plans to change that anytime in the near future. (So don‘t get any ideas people- this isn’t one of those “special announcement” posts.)

Jason’s lack of offspring, however, didn’t stop me from spoiling him a bit on Father’s Day. I know some of you are thinking right now that a man without any kids has no business getting any kind of special treatment on Father’s Day. But before you come to that conclusion let’s review the facts:  1. I enjoy spoiling my husband immensely and any reason to do so, no matter how lame, is good enough of an excuse for me. 2. Jason wasn’t exactly an angelic child, quite the opposite actually. He was constantly into all sorts of mischief, from hotwiring dirt bikes to breaking into classmates’ homes. So if karma has anything to do with the outcome of the universe we will probably have the worse behaved children on the planet. In which case, Jason deserves a few anticipatory Father’s Day celebrations before his brood put him through hell.

This picture doesn't really do the Bananas Foster French Toast justice. Yum!
This picture doesn't really do the Bananas Foster French Toast justice. Yum!

So, in honor of Jason, and all his kid-less glory, I made a tasty, extremely fattening, Father’s Day breakfast that included a Baked Gruyere and Sausage Omelet and Bananas Foster French Toast. I used a whole carton of eggs and more heavy cream than I care to remember preparing this hearty breakfast. But hey, Father’s Day only comes around once a year, right? One wouldn’t want to miss such a wonderful opportunity to clog the arteries of the man you love, even if he isn’t a father yet by any definition of the word. It’s probably a good thing though I don’t cook decadent food like this on a regular basis, or that sweet man of mine might not live long enough to ever become a father.

The Baked Sausage and Gruyere Omelet was also delish!
The Baked Sausage and Gruyere Omelet was also delish. Gruyere makes anything taste fantastic!