Snapshots of a Saturday

This was a full day! Wednesday was Ron's birthday and we had his traditional birthday dinner tonight. It was just our family and his parents. Ron really outdid himself by cooking his own special meal. We gorged ourselves on grilled rib-eye steak and shrimp, fresh corn on the cob, avocados, grilled jalapeno and bell peppers, and homemade rolls. The steak especially was heavenly; a combination of a good marinade along with Ron's superior grill skills. I didn't get any pictures of the meal. If I had asked this group to abstain from eating so I could snap some photos, I probably would have gotten a fork stuck in a very unpleasant place.

But since I made the cake this morning, I was able to get a picture of it.

This is Pioneer Woman's Chocolate Sheet Cake. And everything she says about it on her website is absolutely true. It is the best. It is divine. It is...well, you get the idea.

I wanted Ron to have a special birthday card this year. Usually I don't even buy him a card since he's really not sentimental in that way. Except about the kiddos. So I took some pics and Maddy made him a card that I don't think he'll ever throw away.

On the inside are some very sweet hand-written messages from the kids.

After I finished with the cake, I decided I needed some equine therapy. Trixie has been missing from this blog for too long. She looks so gorgeous now. She has shed her fuzzy winter coat and is simply gleaming.

As curious and sweet as ever!

While we were out in the pasture, we visited the new baby goats.

On the way back to the house, we encountered this little bird enjoying some lunch. Can anyone identify it?

Pretty soon it was time to clean up for dinner. ((Picture delicious meal here.))

After dinner, Ron opened his presents. There was the normal guy birthday stuff. Cabela's gift cards, Starbucks gift cards, bluetooth headphones...but then Morgan came in with this..

A fresh strawberry from Ron's very own strawberry plant. Ron devoured it in one bite and proclaimed it "awesome."

Things are winding down now. It's been a good day.