Happy New Year’s Eve!  Most of us are currently in the livingroom because Rich and Ethan are in the mood to watch Mr. Bean videos.  Nothing gets Rich laughing harder.

22 years ago we welcomed our firstborn into the world on this day.  Today is his birthday and it’s fun that it falls on a holiday and he can be home on his special day.  He and Brittnee went downtown to the coffeeshop for a little date, too.  We had pasta for lunch, played Phase 10, and just had a most delicious cake.

But before I share photos from today, I wanted to post a few from the wrestling tournament on Saturday.  Jacob drove me and the kids in my vehicle to the school where Rich and David and the rest of the team were warming up.

David lost his first two matches and then won his second two.  It was a day of blood, sweat, and tears for him but it ended well.  (In blue singlet on the right).

Seth and Sarah have spent a lot of their childhood in wrestling gyms and always find a spot to watch (rarely the bleachers next to me).  I keep an eye on them and smile.  Seth helped keep time at one point during the day, and even got to run the score clock once, as well.

David recovered after a loss next to his sister.

After a win, and then telling his Dad no way did he have any interested in doing an exhibition match against a 160 pounder.  (Dave was 138 on Saturday).

After his second win, I took this photo from the bleachers of Dave listening to whatever Jacob was telling him (Ethan and Rich are nearby on the edge of the mat wearing gray long sleeved shirts).  Rich loves it when the boys are home and can help coach.   Jacob thought the shoot David did in this match was the best he ever did and Dave said it was because he “didn’t shoot from the bleachers” meaning he wasn’t too far away for it to be effective this time.

Sometimes I just sit and take photos of whatever happens in front of me.

We stopped for a nice BBQ lunch on the way home and that was Saturday.

Then, on Sunday evening Jacob invited friends to the house to begin celebrating his birthday.

Rich took them to Costco to get party food and they came home with shrimp, clams, and salmon, along with chips, dips, crackers, cheese, drinks, and a cake.

Ethan got to work making coffees with his Christmas espresso maker while Jacob steamed all of the clams.

Grace cozied up on the couch reading a book.

And Rich watched the football games.

Today Jacob turned twenty-two.

They played games most of the day.  It’s been nice.  Our favorites have been Listography and Phase 10.

I didn’t have twenty two candles so we put two and then two more.  I love this photo so much.  I was about to take it and Rich went and found the tripod so I could be in it, too.  Real-life romance.

Grace lit the candles and someone turned off the lights.

We all started singing.

And then Jacob blew out the candles.

Seth was being silly.

Dave went right back downstairs to Skyrim but don’t worry, “I’ll leave the door open so I can still hear you all,” he said.

The cake was delicious!