Happy Birthday Big Al

Alan's birthday was a few weeks ago, but I still need to record it. James Alan Soelberg was born into this blessed world on April 20th 1981. That makes him 27. AAAAH - we're almost 30! He is the seventh of 13 children, which means he has MAJOR middle child syndrome. It's always a party when Alan's around because he's so loud and obnoxious (and fun). All his nieces and nephews LOVE him. Grace and Mae start calling him Alan when they're around their cousins because they think it's the cool thing to do and they have to fight for his attention. On his birthday everyone, including my family, went to his parent's house for Sunday dinner. I wish I could say that I threw him a massive party, but to be completely honest, his mother did. Is that bad? She went all out. They set up white tents in the back yard with many many tables underneath for all of us to eat in the shade, she made shishcabbobs, homemade rolls, salad, tomatoes with mozzarella cheese and basil, and even homemade macaroni and cheese for the kids. (she has never done the Kraft stuff) I did make the cake! (Go ERICA) The party was amazing - all for Big Beautiful Al. The nieces and nephews couldn't leave him alone. Alan made everyone sing happy birthday to him about 10 times that day - which the kids thoroughly enjoyed. We had a great time with both families and love that we can all be together like that.

It's so much fun to have one day to celebrate someones birth. I feel like this birthday made up for all the other lame ones. Since we have been married, Alan has always been in finals during his birthday - which means he leaves for school before the sun's up and comes home long after it's down. Last year we weren't even together on his birthday because he was finishing finals in Omaha and the girls and I already moved to Mesa. I'm so glad I was here to celebrate him this year. I'm so glad he was born.