January birthdays…

January is a busy time of year for my parents.  My birthday is on the 20th, Heather’s is on the 21st and my Grandma’s is on the 23rd and as has been the tradition since Heather and I were kids, my parents made us both a special dinner on our birthdays.

Jen's Birthday Dinner: Spaghetti (no meatballs), garlic bread, brocolli, salad and cracked crab. For dessert: Chocolate Decadence cake. Mmmm, delicious... =)

Heather's birthday dinner: Home made pizza and cracked crab. For dessert: Home made chocolate cake with wHip cream frosting. =)

My dad had also made matching arbors for Heather and I which are absolutely amazing and look like they took an incredible amount of work.

Thanks for the awesome arbor Dad. Very cool! =)

Heather models the latest in arbor fashion. =)

Our family =)

On Saturday, Heather, Jeffery, my mom and I drove down to Salinas to surprise my grandma for her 82nd birthday.

When we got there and knocked on the door, Grandma answered the door with a measuring spoon in her hand.  She was right in the middle of making the pinoche icing for a spice cake.  Hurray, Grandma made cake!  =)

Shortly after we arrived, Grandma’s friend Jewel came over to wish Grandma a happy birthday.

Grandma's good friend Jewel stopped by to wish Grandma a Happy Birthday.

We then loaded up into the car to head out to Monterey for lunch and some whale watching.  We didn’t see any whales but we did see some incredible surf.  The storm really whipped things up.

The Sandbar Bar & Grill... very good food and a wonderful view of the harbor.

Heather navigates the rocks in her new Ugg's.

After getting back from Monterey we hung out and talked while Uncle Tim made dinner: stuffed pork tenderloin with small red potatoes, string beans and a delicious gravy.  Man my family sure knows how to cook (present company excluded, maybe someday though).  After dinner we sang Happy Birthday and had slices of Grandma’s delicious cake and ice cream.  What a wonderful way to wrap up the day.  =)

I'm loving the tripod Marshall got me for Christmas. Now everyone can be in the family pictures. =)

So another set of January birthday’s down.  Thanks to everyone for making my birthday very special.  I’m looking forward to a great year.  =)