Hugo Turns 5!

                              Three...                                                   Four...                                                  Five!                                

Today was Hugo's 5th birthday and I'm not sure who was more excited, Hugo or myself.  He is sooo happy to finally be 5.  Hugo has also been telling me that when we have his kid party, he'll then be 6!  Hold on there slugger!!  We are having a drawn out birthday celebration for him.  Party with Papa today, party with Vovo next weekend, Easter weekend is next, and then we'll host Hugo's kid party the following weekend, or so...  Cesar suggested having the friend party at the Little Gym, but I really want to have it here at the house.  To do it up with a knight and princess theme for both Hugo's boy and girl friends.  Work will be involved, but I just wanna.

We decided to lean toward the simple with gifts this year, Hugo hasn't been so hot about cleaning his room.  I bought him a board game from Papa, a Hawk Man and Flash Imaginext figurines from the girls, and a 1.5 gallon fish tank from me.  Cesar had said no to the fish.  I said that fish could be flushed down the toilet if need be.  I had really wanted to get a parakeet.  Cesar really, really said no.  So, I settled for this nice, small tank with 2 black spotted mole, 1 blue (Because blue is Hugo's favorite color.  I had originally wanted to get all blue fish but they only had two blue guppy's at our PetSmart so in the end, I decided to mix fish colors up.) guppy, 1 orange guppy, and 1 African frog who happens to live underwater all the time.  Hugo spied the tank set up on the kitchen counter the night before his birthday and threw his arms around me and hugged me tight and said I was the best Momma ever.

Two nights ago I asked Hugo what kind of cake he'd like for his birthday, his answer was a superhero cake.  The rest of our conversation went a little something like:

Me:  No, no, no silly.  Do you want a chocolate cake or a strawberry cake or a carrot cake?  You name it and I'll try it.

Hugo:  While scratching his chin and starring up at the ceiling with his head cocked for added drama... I think... I want... aaaaaaa... a Loooove cake!  Yeah!!  A Loooove cake Mom!

Me:  A love cake?

Hugo:  Yeah!  A Loooove cake and you can make whatever frosting you want.  I just want a love cake!

So I put on my thinking cap and remembered a forgotten heart shaped pan tucked away in the pantry.  It was perfect for my little boys Loooove cake!  Oh, and it had to be blue, because blue is Hugo's favorite color.

Hugo was happy morning till night.

Phil Allen

We had a visitor by the name of Phil Allen this past weekend.  The friendship between Cesar and Phil dates back to their high school days.  Way back when, they attended different schools but found themselves introduced to one another by the girls they were each dating.  The dating relationships soon ended, but a bond of friendship, and a mutual love of cars and motorcycles, was formed between the two young men.  Very few people were at our City Hall wedding, Phil Allen was in attendance.  We weren't quite sure he'd make it, as he was working a tug in the New York harbor that morning.  Off the ship he jumped, just in time to be Cesar's Best Man.

This birthday weekend marks Phil's 40th year.  We are very happy to have had him spend this special time in his life with our growing family.

Cesar and Phil spent an afternoon at the shooting range while Hugo and I hurried to make a secret birthday cake together.  The little stinker could hardly keep his mouth shut about the surprise throughout dinner.  He'd say things like, "You know Phil, we don't have a birthday cake for you."  Thank heavens Phil didn't, or at least pretended, to not understand him.  I'll think twice about involving him in another undercover surprise operation again anytime soon.  Like, say in his Papa's Christmas present!  Phil had a hard time blowing out the candles on his cake.  In the end, he invited the all to eager Hugo to help him out.

Phil was also very sweet with the girls.  He thought it was strange that they sat in their high chairs and watched us while we ate dinner.  They were silent!  After dinner he carried Marlo upstairs for me and deposited himself in the glider as I dressed one girl and then the other for bed, Hugo played at his feet.  Soon Phil was roped into reading Hugo a tug boat tale just before sleep.

Happy Birthday Phil!  And come again soon!