Dad, happy birthday?

Yes, that is a question.

This year for his birthday, my dad got--

1. to drop off my brother Daniel at the Missionary Training Center in Provo
2. a huge, record-breaking Texas snowstorm that he entirely missed
3. a dead cat

Hence, the question mark.

Was this a happy birthday week, or not?

Daniel's desire and ability to serve a mission is a happy thing...but saying good-bye to your child for two years can't be easy. So is #1 happy or not?

So is it unfortunate that my dad missed his birthday snowstorm? Or was he only too happy to leave the shoveling to David (and my mom)?

As for #3? Your guess is as good as mine.

Regardless of how unhappy (or not!) my dad may have been, no birthday can pass without a party (and way too many pictures of it posted on my blog).

Oh, here's another thing my dad got...

A green sweatshirt!! (This is an inside joke having to do with a certain nasty green sweatshirt in my dad's closet that is so old that it shows up in photographs pre-me!)

This is what it looks like when Mary's heart is breaking...
Poor Mary. None of the presents were for her.

David and Mary posed for me! Here they are in front of the party game...
(Incidentally, it's not my mission in life to make you nauseated from viewing blurry, grainy pictures. I stubbornly refuse to use the flash, pushing my poor very-reasonably-priced camera way WAY beyond its limits.)

Oh, look. Here is David posing for me. (This never happens!)

Some good old-fashioned party fun...


David actually got two turns. He cheated the first time, announcing, "I like cheating!" The second time he did not cheat, an accomplishment of which he was very proud.

Here is Mary with the lovely cake she decorated...
(Oops, Dad, now EVERYBODY KNOWS.)

Making a wish...
(Somehow I doubt the wish had to do with a resuscitated cat.)

Well, Dad, what's the verdict?

Happy birthday!

(Or not?)