Where do you take a guy on his 35th birthday?

Lilac Lanes, of course!  Bowling!  Jeff turned 35 and we ALMOST surprised him with a family birthday party at the bowling alley.  Our 4-year old *may* have revealed the surprise on the way...we were going to stop really quickly at Alea's piano recital on the way to the party and Joshy may or may not have said, "Can't we go bowling first?!?"  Surprise or not, Jeff was pretty excited to bowl with his family for his birthday party.

Everyone showed up in ugly sweaters for the event.  I'll let you vote on the winning sweater-wearer...

Bill Murray photo-bomb.

I love this picture...anticipation!

...and then Celebration!

Even the grandparents made it to the alley!  We were so excited to have everyone there.  I was so excited to get a family picture...you'd think it was MY birthday!!!

Quiet joy.

And unbridled passion.

Oden was quite enamored by the ball return.  You could just see the wheels in his brain turning, trying to figure out how it worked.

It was such a fun evening!  And then, to top it off, I'd arranged for the kids to go home with Scott and Colleen so Jeff and I could meet the Van Sickles downtown for dinner.  I don't know who was more excited...Jeff? or the kids, bound for G'ma and G'pa's house on a whim?

It was a fun day to celebrate Jeff--sweet husband, awesome dad, all-around good egg. :)