Happy Birthday to Me!

Sunday was my 32nd birthday. Unfortunately, my birthday happened to coincide with Bill's field exercise at Fort Bliss. So on Friday night we hit up Oktoberfest for a quick dinner...just to remind us of one of the many reasons we miss living in Germany. After some delicious schnitzel, potato salad, and Oompah band music--yup, we still do. When we got home Drew helped Bill pack up before Daddy headed to bed for a few hours of sleep before leaving VERY early for a VERY long convoy to Texas.

Saturday night I met some friends for dinner, while Drew hung out at our friends' house. While I was gone Drew and Miss Kimmi made a special surprise birthday cake for me. Kim even consulted Bill before he left to find out what my favorite was. His answer (the right one of course) was: chocolate, chocolate, and then a little more chocolate. Anyway, Drew was so excited about the cake that he forgot it was a surprise and told me almost as soon as I walked in after dinner.

Here he is presenting Mommy with it. So darn cute.


Me blowing out the candles. A minor miracle I didn't light my hair on fire!


Here's Drew all ready for his sleepover with his buddy Danny. Steve is such a good friend to watch both of the boys so we ladies could go out.

Here's all the ladies that were able to make it out with us Saturday night.

Me with a couple friends at our favorite dive bar


The club we went to later was kind enough to make me famous for the night.

Sunday we went for breakfast with Steve, Kimmi, & Danny and then vegged in front of football all day at our house while the boys had the longest playdate ever. They had every toy in the house on the living room floor, but they played so well together that we didn't even care. Shortly after I put Drew to bed that night I finally got a phone call from Bill (cell reception at Bliss is not good) complete with directions to locate where my birthday presents were hidden in the garage. Sneaky boy.

It was a great birthday weekend, and while I don't really let a little thing like a number bother me, I will be happy when my husband joins me in the 30s next month.

Happy 4th Birthday Drew!

We just wrapped up quite a birthday weekend here in the Cherkauski household. Sunday August 16th was Drew's 4th birthday, and while the majority of the festivities were on Sunday, with my parents and sister visiting from out of town we really made it into a whole weekend. As usual, I have a million and one pictures, so without any further delay, here's a review of the weekend in photos.

My parents and sister arrived around 4 on Friday afternoon. When I picked Drew up from school shortly before that he immediately asked whether everyone was here yet (we've been counting down for weeks!). I said no, but they're close. Then he yelled all the way across the parking lot "I'm so excited they're almost here!"


While Dad and I prepared dinner that night, Drew showed off his big boy bike-riding skills to Aunt Katie.

After cruising around the neighborhood cul de sacs, Drew & Aunt Katie switched to baseball in the backyard.

Eventually, on my third try, I was able to get our grill turned on. Yes, the grill we've had for 7 years. I didn't know how to use it until Bill gave me a lesson Thursday night. You see, Bill was out of town on Friday and Saturday. One of the soldiers from his platoon that he deployed to Iraq with was being commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in Kentucky and he asked Bill to pin on his rank. Bill was, of course, honored to do it for Winburn and also got to catch up with 3 of the other soldiers from the Cav unit in Germany. Unfortunately, the commissioning happened to fall on the same weekend as Drew's birthday, so Bill had quite a quick trip to Kentucky, leaving early Friday morning and returning late Saturday night. But he was very glad he went. And I, was very glad once the grill finally lit on Friday so my dad could make the yummy steaks they brought.

Saturday morning we got off to an early start as we had plenty to check off the pre-party to-do list and Drew's swimming lessons to attend. Everyone seemed to have something to do except Drew, so he lounged in front of Dora the Explorer, using his Elmo chair as a pillow instead of a chair.

While I went grocery shopping for party food, Drew "helped" Grandma with the cake and posed for pictures for Aunt Katie.

His Gene Simmons impersonation apparently?

Drew and Grandpa spent some time working on various puzzles.

While working on the 50 states puzzle, Drew cleverly noticed and remarked that "This state looks like a boot." So here he is showing off Louisiana.


After lunch, Grandma began the long process of icing the two cakes.

As is tradition since Drew's first birthday we ordered Chinese takeout for dinner on Saturday night. Daddy was a little hurt we didn't wait for him but we saved him some leftovers to enjoy for lunch the next day. Plus, with a feast like Bill and I had planned for Sunday we didn't want to have Chinese for lunch the same day.

After our very filling Chinese dinner, and as Drew gives goodnight hugs and kisses at bedtime, Grandma finally neared the end of her 10 hour process of making and decorating two cakes for the party. If that's not love, I don't know what is. Grandma has made at least one cake for Drew's birthday every year since his 1st birthday and Drew's character requests seem to be getting more intricate...the fact that we were expecting 20 people for the party and would need two cakes didn't help matters either.

Here's the birthday boy retrieving the Sunday newspaper

Daddy had a long layover during his return from Kentucky and did a little extra shopping for the birthday boy. He found a really cool magnetic, two-sided Lightning McQueen puzzle. Here they are putting it together for the first time after our blueberry pancake breakfast.

Since we had several smaller gifts this year, instead of one larger present, we let Drew open some of the gifts from us, Grandma & Grandpa, and Aunt Katie before the party. Here he is tearing into the first one.

After a few pictures of Drew showing off his presents in front of his face, he finally mastered the off-to-the-side present display.

Drew showing off his new T-shirt that Aunt Katie got at the NYC Transit Museum

Drew thanks Aunt Katie for the presents

Uncle Johnny called to wish Drew a Happy Birthday. Cousin Ava, Uncle Eric, Aunt Jalene and Grandma Mary called too, but I only snapped one photo. Poor cousin Ava was so sad she couldn't come to Drew's birthday party that she cried herself to sleep.

His expression doesn't show it in this picture but Drew was very excited that Grandma & Grandpa found comfy pants that "have the guitars like my guitar hero game."

Funny little expression on his face as he shows everyone his new Cars Road Trip book.

Drew modeling his new Lightning McQueen backpack from Grandma & Grandpa

Drew & Aunt Katie having a blowout battle before the party starts.

Drew takes a turn on the slide as he and his friends run all over the backyard. I had worried they might be bored out there given that we have no grass, only one playset, and just a few sports things. I quickly discovered...kids don't require much to have a fantastic time!

After enjoying a yummy dinner of shrimp and chicken kabobs (that Bill prepared and grilled to perfection), bratwursts and potato salad, it was time to move on to our next yummy treat: cake and ice cream.

Grandma's masterpiece: beautiful AND delicious.

Drew attempting to blow out his candle

Family shot

Drew was far more concerned with shoveling cake and frosting into his mouth than he was with looking at the camera. But really...who could blame him. It was VERY good cake.

Drew & Mommy show off a presents from one of his friends.

After Drew finished opening his presents I handed him treat bags to give to each of his friends. Once the kids discovered the treat bags included bubbles, they were out the door to run around the backyard after bubbles. Despite having a pile of new toys and games, the fact that all of his friends had treat bags with bubbles and he didn't have one was very distressing to Drew. Fortunately, Drew's bubble gun still had a little bit of bubble solution in it and the day was saved.

After all of our friends had gone home and a quick cleanup of the biggest parts of the mess that was our house, Drew got a bath and was treated to a bedtime story from each of us to cap off his birthday celebration.

Aunt Katie & Drew after finishing a story


After I took Aunt Katie's picture I realized I hadn't taken a picture of Drew with Grandma & Grandpa, but by that time Grandma was already reading her own bedtime story. Not really wanting to get out of her pajamas, we snapped a quick pic of the three of them cuddling under the covers.

I read the last of the 5 bedtime stories in Drew's bed and then we recapped the best parts of Drew's birthday weekend. He told me about Grandma's nice cake, having fun with his friends, and opening presents ("Presents was my favorite Mommy"). It didn't take long for Drew (or any of us for that matter) to fall asleep that night.

Monday morning Drew was quick to put on shoes with his pajamas so he could help Grandpa load the suitcases in the car for their return trip to Las Vegas. He's so darn cute.

It's hard to believe our little man is 4. I often wonder at what age some of Drew's memories will start to become permanent. I think my first memories are from when I was 3 or 4, so I'm hoping that Drew's little mind holds onto at least a small part of the fun, friends, family and love that went into this celebration of his birthday.

Happy 3rd Birthday Drew!

This past Saturday Drew turned 3 years old! Finally I can stop getting the "Are you sure?" looks from people when he would say he was 2. He's just tall people!

Drew has been very excited about his impending birthday. He's been counting down the days until Grandma and Grandpa arrived (the day before his birthday) and has been saying they're bringing him a train for his birthday from the store ever since the phone conversation when Grandma asked Drew what he'd like for his birthday. Quite a memory in that kid's brain.

Since we had big plans for Saturday during the day, Grandma had to make the cake on Friday night, and Drew was, of course, very eager to help. This time he got to lick one of the mixer's beaters. He wasn't quite sure how to approach it at first, but once Mommy demonstrated he jumped right in!

On Drew's birthday, we all headed up to Tucson to visit the Children's Museum.

He climbed...

He made music...Mommy & Drew had a bit of a bongo banging war.

He got quite a kick out of making music with flip flops.

He drove the fire truck AND...the police motorcycle...

He did puzzles...

And he climbed the tree/dinosaur and swung like a monkey!

It was quite a day!

After our morning at the museum and some lunch, we headed home to set up for our little Nemo birthday bash. Drew's teacher had made him a Nemo birthday hat to wear at school so he had that on for a bit. He loved the Nemo blowouts that Grandma and Grandpa found. And he was surprisingly patient when it came to opening presents.

Drew shows off his new 2 in 1 Elmo games.

Drew is all smiles over his new GeoTrax train set (and it's not even out of the box yet). I've never seen him so entranced by a toy. He will play with it for hours.

Drew anxiously waiting as we are singing the Happy Birthday song.

Family shot.

(Mommy should have reapplied some makeup after the museum...)

Drew digs in to that Nemo cake...clown fish are yummy!

Finally, if you'll allow me a little stroll down memory lane, here's just a few pictures from the last 3 August 16ths.

8/16/05: Drew joins the world at the Wurzburg Army Hospital at 10:31 am after 2 1/2 hours of pushing...worth every second once it was finally over. I remember being relieved that he wasn't born during the 6 hour time difference between Germany and East coast time zone.

8/16/06: Drew's 1st Birthday. We enjoyed Chinese food and cake on his actual birthday and a trip to the Columbia, SC zoo and party with Grandma Carolyn, Aunt Katie and Uncle Johnny that weekend.

8/16/07: Drew's 2nd Birthday. Again, we enjoyed Chinese food and cake on his actual birthday and a trip to the zoo (Tucson this time) and party with Grandma, Grandpa and some friends that weekend.

Happy Birthday Andrew!