August is Birthdays

Sunday August 4th I surprised Jay with a birthday party.  We have some friends who love coffee and even like to roast the beans when possible.  They invested in an espresso maker. So I invited everyone to their house for coffee and sweet treats because my husband loves good coffee. People from POC, work and our prayer group came. We arrived at 2pm-the first ones there. They had a banner up and a sheet to sign and a table of cakes and cookies.  They shared the birthday napkins that someone had sent them in a box and the traditional birthday plate that they brought with- Jay got to use it.  He didn’t quite get it at first-so I said we were celebrating early with them.  They had plans the following weekend. However their 10 year old son walked by and said “more people will be here in a little bit” and they were. Jay was surprised and that was my gift for him.  Thanks to our friends who hosted and the ones who took time out of their day to come. On August 10^th Jay’s birthday, I made him cheese cake bars.  I was grateful the store had creamed cheese.

Starting the celebration

A fun card from a friend

The kids attacking Jay

 

 

 

The presents did not arrive until after Jay's birthday

Excited to open a gift

Thank you Kids

My birthday was Tuesday, August 27^th. They weekend before Jay informed me he was going to fix breakfast for me on Saturday as a birthday gift and invite 2 couples to share it with us. He made pancakes and eggs.  My lady friends did dishes and cleaned up the kitchen before they went home.  It was an enjoyable morning.

 Later on that day Jay informed me that he and Elijah would take care of supper that night. Unsure of what I would be eating I agreed.  When 530pm came Jay suggested I walk to the dvd rental place for a movie.  Not wanting to see what he was going to fix I left.  When I arrived home the door was locked.  I knocked on the door and opened up to my table decorated with a birthday table cloth and someone else’s dishes along with our friends.  Jay arranged to have a high school student fix all the food; bring it over with their dishes and to pick up the dirty dishes later.  Elijah did his part by babysitting for the couple.  So, the four of us enjoyed our delicious peaceful meal.  My friend brought her delectable chocolate cake for dessert and 
we taught them how to play Catan.

On my actual birthday I made taco salad and had a canister of Fritos that I had saved instead of frying my own tortilla chips.

I opened the gifts from my family-part of the time talking to Kristolyn.

More pictures to hang on my walls

Flowers a friend picked from her yard

Elijah celebrated his 17^th birthday on Saturday, August 31^st.  I asked him if he wanted to do anything special and he said no. Fortunately his friend decided to surprise him with a little party.  He made brownies and had 2 other boys spend the night on Friday. However before he went I made him his birthday meal.  It included steak, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans and stuffed jalapenos.  We were able to marinade and cook the steaks over an open fire in a grill..  

Thank you for the gifts.

When Elijah came home on Saturday he could not wait very long.  So that afternoon we opened his gifts and ate homemade chocolate éclairs. He did have a few friends stop by that day to give him birthday greetings.

 
We have wonderful memories of our first birthdays here in PNG.  Thank you for sharing them with us.
Happy Birthday John August 22!