Dean's 13th Birthday.......................

Dean's 13th Birthday celebration at his favorite Italian restaurant!

his favorite "ice cream cake"
(No, I'm afraid the only thing I can take credit for is picking it up at Baskin Robbins:)

We have been getting Dean an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins for the last 5 years now. Five years ago on his birthday while living in England we had to take an 8 hour drive to an American military base to have Faith's evaluation with the early intervention specialists. We celebrated Dean's birthday at the military exchange mall and the only cake we could find was the ice cream cake. He LOVED it and was hooked! Every year now he asks for an ice cream cake:)

Dean's birthday wasn't the perfect day I had planned for and wanted for him. I knew as soon as I picked Faith and Reed up for school it was going to be "one of those" evenings!:0 They were both obviously very tired from our beach day the previous day and staying up so late. When Faith is tired she gets very silly and talks non stop (I mean non stop!) When Reed is tired he is moody and just not pleasant to be around (putting it nicely) Put the two of them together when they are tired and it makes for one not so happy Mommy. I lectured them on the way to pick up Dean how this is their brothers day and they need to try and get along and help make his day special...blah, blah, blah.........(they didn't hear a word I said amongst all the bickering). That's OK the "13 Year Old" will be happy and that's all that matters! Wrong! Dean gets to the car and he is stressed! Dean takes school very seriously (which I am thankful for, but not on his birthday!), he has tons of homework and he's afraid with his birthday plans he's not going to be able to get it all done. He asks if we can just skip the plans and stay home. What! I had the perfect evening planned.....dinner and then bowling and then home for cake and presents. "OK, we'll skip the bowling but we are going out to dinner at your favorite restaurant." I am determined to make this a great birthday for him!!!
So as soon as Daddy gets home we set off with one overly silly, one moody, and one stressed birthday boy and end up having a "as good as can be expected" dinner. Then it was home to race through singing "Happy Birthday" and presents so we could start homework, baths, and bedtime! Not the "13" Birthday I had envisioned for Dean, but he had his favorite pizza and ice cream cake so hey! he was happy! And everyone woke up the next day in much better moods!


Dean, you never complain and are always so grateful for everything! How we got so lucky is beyond me! We wish you a year full of blessings and happiness!!!!!! We love you so so very much!!!!!