Simply The Best

Okay, so as you all know, I had QUITE the June scheduled. We were in Santa Barbara one weekend, San Diego the next, and then 36 hours after we landed back in New York six of our dearest friends flew in from California for 5 days. The latter part you didn't know, because it was a TOTAL surprise for Graham's 30th birthday. When it became clear that we weren't going to get to the Bay Area for his BIG birthday, I started hatching a plan not even I thought was going to happen. I extended an invite to his best friends explaining the situation with all the disclaimers of "I know it's far and expensive and time consuming, etc." and THEY ALL ACCEPTED. For four months I have been planning and hatching and scheming , while my dear unknowing husband lamented about the sad state of his 30th birthday. I would listen to his moments of sorriness and outwardly be VERY sympathetic, while inside I was CACKLING with GLEE. Oh, was HE IN FOR IT.

I ended up having to tell him that TWO of his friends were coming in because we were coming back from San Diego so close to when they arrived, plus as a pregnant lady I just can't do as much as I usually do and I NEEDED HELP preparing our home for the onslaught. He was very excited when I told him, but he still had NO IDEA about the other four.

It was a pretty amazing moment when he came home from work Thursday night to an apartment filled with friendly faces. Luckily, we live in a digital age so I was able to capture it:

You gotta love the happiness. And the tie. Also, in case you can't see it--his "briefcase" is a Whole Foods bag. That's how professors these days roll, people. ANYWAY, he was very very happy. And what a weekend we had. There was LOTS of hugging:
And picture taking:

And sometimes picture taking with cake:And then because New York wanted to show off, it proceeded to have the BEST WEATHER we've had in MONTHS. I mean, FIVE whole days of sun? That is CRAZY TALK. We were sitting, finishing our meal, at our favorite Brooklyn bistro on Graham's birthday, when Lauren (our favorite waitress at our favorite bistro) rushed over to the table and said, "You guys, come quick! There is the most SPECTACULAR sky outside!" So we got up and ran to the street to join the rest of the restaurant and neighborhood to look up at the incredible sky:

It was pretty gorgeous. Also, everyone looked good in its light. Rosy and happy and content.

We had four days and five nights of just pure laughter, talking, exploring the city, eating too much food, spending probably too much money (dang New York prices!), and just having an incredible time of reconnection. I felt like we were all on vacation together. It RULED. Graham said it was the best birthday he ever had. And then he paused and thought about it and said, "I'm screwed for your birthday, aren't I?" Not this year, buddy. This year, the gifts keep on giving.