So say you love me here and now, I'll make the most of that. Say you love and trust me, For I know you'll disgust me When you're old and getting fat.

Guess who had a birthday since the last time we blogged...That's right!  Nicholas did.  On April 5, 2012 Nicholas hit the big 3-0 and he hit it hard.  At first I told him that I couldn't see any difference between 29 and 30 but now that I'm doing a comparison, I'm really not so sure...

Nicholas on April 4

Nicholas on April 5

So, in honor of Nicholas' milestone birthday, we celebrated...and celebrated...and celebrated! On Nicholas' actual birthday we stayed low key and he picked out a special birthday dinner--lamb chops, mashed potatoes, and broccoli--and I made raspberry shortbread for dessert.

Raspberry shortbread.  Compost sold separately.

Of course, Nicholas' big birthday present was his party.  The whole house was decorated to look like a shrine to Nicholas.  I collected pictures, only around 300 or so, from the last 30 years and turned them into triptych panels on card stock.

Nicholas is the old lady featured at the far right.

Then I made a photo timeline by hanging all of the triptychs around the first floor of our house.  The menu included Nicholas' favorite snacks and an homage to Nicholas' first birthday cake. 

Cake from April '83

Cake from April '12

Nicholas blowing out his candles with help from Bailey and Macy

The fact that the inside of this year's cake was red velvet really added a certain je ne sais quoi to the experience.  (Science fact: the bunny died, so all of our neighbors are pregnant)

Nicholas cutting the bleeding bunny while Jared comforts a traumatized looking Kelsey in the background

I really got a kick out of the cake. 

Ouiser was unamused.

Oh, and Shelby died.  (SPOILER ALERT)

Anyway, it was very nice to have all of our wonderful neighbors and Nicholas' family and friends pile into the house to celebrate.  David even flew in from Chicago to surprise Nicholas on the morning of the party.  The bigger surprise: David wasn't invited to the party...awkward.

And in the end everyone got to take away a little party favor.

Now that all of the celebrations are over and the dust has settled, it's time for finals!  I'm so sad that we're almost done our first year in Cleveland and I'm devastated that I only have one more year left of my program...APRIL FOOLS! 

Editor's Note: April Fools came and went 20 days ago.  Above sentence should probably read: I'm so sad that we're almost done our first year in Cleveland and I'm devastated that I only have one more year left of my program...PATHOLOGICAL LIES!

Anyway, life is pretty much back to normal now with the exception of today's great discovery: Pi is one of the world's most gifted performers.  Today she recreated that famous scene from Caddyshack with the Baby Ruth.  Except instead of a pool, it was the middle of our basement.  And instead of a Baby Ruth, it was actually feces. 

Nicholas with cat feces

Wendy breaking it down to Kenny Loggins

Remember how we always had four cats?  Well that's still true...for now.