Devin 4th!

One way to prevent a child from getting spoiled is when he wants something you say, “Wait until your birthday.” Or “Wait until Christmas.” For a while “Your birthday” was a common mantra to any demand Devin would make on us. Now the difference between most parents and me is that when Devin asks for something I actually put it on a mental list and go looking for it – most of theses wishes are toys and such and anyone who knows me knows how much I love shopping for toys – so I see Devin and Brianna as nothing but the benefit from this uh, obsession of mine.

The day before his birthday, as we wrapped his presents, I would bring them from their hiding place. It took me a good ten minutes as I dragged present after present into the kitchen. When Star Wars was big he wanted the Millennium Falcon, Star Wars action figures, a Wookie weapon (super soaker squirt gun), a Darth Vader Talking Helmet – he also wanted Hot Wheels - Bat Mobile (with Batman Begins action figure) which he got. I also picked up something for Brianna – a Darth Tater (Darth Vader Potatohead.) Of course all of you may know that most of these are thing that I would want in my collection, so all was right with the world.

Devin’s birthday is August 7th and this year it landed on a Sunday. A month before we thought of all these elaborate plans and people we were going to invite – as the day came closer, these plans seemed to diminish and ended up being family. I invited my friend Fabio because I knew I need some help cooking and also some moral support – also he’s a little down because of some “domestic issues.”

The whole bunch of Newport Beach Gaughans had other plans in the morning to see the King Tut exhibit at the LACMA – so they all came over around 2:30. Dennis held court and told of his adventures with Connor on a Grand Canyon river trip, it was a rip roaring adventure of how Dennis would outsmart the other father’s for the best beer. We were all in awe. There was also a little of the whitewater trip itself.


Dad holds court!


Kevin and Mom converse!


Mom, Marine and Brianna.


Heaven is missing an Angel, Yeah, right!


A little later Devin open his presents: there were so many just from me that all of them weren’t open that day and some where still being open in the next week. There were so many toys that Devin was able to share without hoarding. There was even a time when he and his 2 year old cousin Aidan, shared the Vader helmet and had a sort of Freudian battle of son verses father. Or something like that. Even Dad got into the fun with the Vader mask – Darth Grandvader!


I am your Grandfather, Luke!!!


Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

Dennis and his brood had to leave before dinner so they, unfortunately were not to partake in the feast that was to be had. Now, I love to cook – tasty kind of food that you may get in your favorite diner or take out place – the menu for consisted of wing – half marinated in pepper sauce, half in teriyaki, then floured and deep fried, barbequed chicken breast in a steak sauce like marinade and barbeque corn on the cob. With careful preparation, timing and a bit of luck everything came out at the same time and – I must say – perfect. Everyone raved as they devoured the scrumptious morsels. Even I was impressed !!!

After dinner we had the Ice Cream cake!














After all the fun my family went on there way before it got too dark.

Devin was great the whole day and listen to almost everything we asked him to, of course when the kid doesn’t stay in one place very long you don’t have much chance to tell him to do anything.




Brian on 09.05.05 @ 10:36 AM CST [Read Comments] [No Comments]