Random Notes from the Birthday

1.  Thanks for all the birthday wishes for Ernie---they have been much appreciated!

2.  I ran home from work and picked the guys up so we could go get a present for Ernie.  Better late than never you know....  They were all excited and asked where we were going.  I told them we were going to Prairie Gardens because Daddy wanted another tree peony in the garden.  "oh," they said.  I told them maybe we could look for something else too. 

I could feel a distinct wave of unenthusiasm wafting from the back seat.

A couple of blocks later, Leo's husky little voice came from the back seat, "uh, Mom, don't you think we ought to get him something to do with music?" 

"yeah," said Owen.

I thought about it, drove a couple of more blocks and then told them of course they were right.  I whipped the car around and headed back toward downtown and Exile on Main Street.  We bought the new Dylan that he'd been wanting (deluxe version which pleased the guys) and a gift certificate.  The boys filled out the gift certificate themselves.  Leo wrote 'to Dad' and 'from Leo' so then Owen was jealous that Leo had gotten to write more so he added 'happy birthday' then the guy at the store pointed out to Leo that now HE needed to write some more so Leo wrote 'dad' on the envelope.  Turns out they also sell candy bars there so things were going pretty well.  We got home and the boys burst out of the car, accosted Ernie in the ally and gave him their presents and hugged him. 

Ernie says he would have like a tree peony as well but I think he's rather tickled.... 

My sweet Leo.....sticking up for his Dad....

3.  The fried chicken.....well it would have been easier if we hadn't lost our thermometer so we couldn't check the temperature of the oil.....  It turned out o.k.......I think I had the oil too hot but once I figured that out....well, the oil had already been too hot....  We ended up cooking too late as we always do so we didn't even fry it all but it's still soaking away in its buttermilk so we're finishing tonight.  I'll have to see if I can improve!