Jarred's Birthday

For Jarred's 28th birthday this year, we went all out!!  Not for any particular reason except that he has had a challenging year at AFIT and I wanted to make his birthday a special one with all of our good friends.  The first couple of pictures was Jarred's 2nd birthday celebration on his real birthday, the 14th of February with just "us", Caleb, Anna Kate and I.  We made him a brownie ice cream cake, Caleb decorated it and although the 3 of us were all sick and spent the day at the doctors, we still managed to make Jarred's favorite dinner and celebrate what a great dad and husband he is.

 Caleb was waiting so patiently to blow out Daddy's candles.  He blew them out a couple time before this picture :)

 This is Jarred's "surprise" birthday celebration that we had at our friend's house across the street.  This was a "beer tasting" birthday party where everyone was assigned a different type of beer to bring.  My friend, Ashley, helped me with all of the details of sending out invites, making decorations, dipping beer glasses in chalkboard paint for each person and putting it all together.  I was going crazy keeping everything a secret, but Ashley was a true friend and helped me stay sane :)

 Here are the beer glasses that were also party favors.

 Fun pinwheel decorations out of scrapbook paper, folding and stapling.

 The beer spread with the categories and the displayed beer.

 It was a "guy" party.  We had peanuts, buffalo chicken dip, sweet and sour meatballs, fruit, chips, and bacon wrapped sausages.

 Here is Jarred totally surprised as everyone hid in the opposite kitchen waiting to walk out.  Oh yes, it wasn't a jump in your face surprise, I was scared no one was there.  It was great!!

 Everyone waiting in the kitchen.  We had 17 of us total!!

Another HUGE surprise, was one of Jarred's best friends, Matt O'Connor, flew into Dayton for the weekend to celebrate with us!  It was so great, but again, I was a nervous wreck.  I am not good at lieing about big stuff.  But....I am glad I did.  Jarred took the weekend off studying (it was right after midterms) and spent the weekend with Matt and us.  Such a good weekend!

Oh, did I mention.......our good friend, Nate, Ashley's husband, made Jarred a REAL ice cream cake with a Guiness cake and Graeter's mint chocolate chip ice cream!  It was amazing and beautiful!  We have been truly blessed with such great friends here in Dayton!