49 :)

Ian is not typically a birthday person; he grumbles about it every year and I think the only reason he ever celebrates is because of the kids. We make a big deal over their birthdays, and they think we should want to make a big deal about ours. This year, Ian actually hinted very strongly about what he wanted (“Hey, look what Thumper got. I want one! My birthday is coming up. I want one!”) and he teased Erin incessantly about having her baby on his birthday.

When her water broke yesterday, aside from turning into Hyperactive Boy and wanting to take her to the hospital right that moment even though she had no labor pains, he started to actively look forward to this birthday. He was getting what he wanted most, to meet his newest grandson, and even admitted that it was better than Erin had him yesterday instead of today, because that meant she would be discharged today, barring complications, and knew she wouldn't mind letting him spend an hour or two with his newest greatest love.

I let him sleep in this morning while I took the kids to school, woke him up when I got home and made breakfast for him, and gave him his present. The Trikke he was coveting so hard (well, and a second one; I know him, he'll want company as he rides.)

My dad took delivery on it for me, because hiding something here just wouldn't work. Either one of the kids would spill it, or he would find it, and I wanted at least the illusion of surprising him. My dad also assembled it before bringing it over this morning--”He's a little kid, he'll want to ride it as soon as he sees it”--and he hung around to see just how “that contraption” works.

Which was all well and good, except for the fact that Ian couldn't make the damn thing move.

Fifteen minutes of “What the hell do I do?” and he was online trying to get help from Thumper, who apparently got the hang of it right off the bat, and then spent the next hour watching videos on You Tube, until Erin and Miko showed up with Thad.

I think he forgot about the Trikke until they left for some much needed rest, and the kids were home from school. He showed the Trikke to them, explained how he thought it should work; Alex looked at it for a few minutes, asked if he could try it, got on...and took off.

It took him about 10 seconds to get it moving and another half a minute to be zooming up and down the street.

Ian was pseudo-upset for about 10 seconds, until he realized that Alex could probably get him moving on it.

Rachel tried the 2nd Trikke and could get it going slowly; Kevin not at all but he's still a bit short for it. Me, I'm not even trying today. I decided to let them have their fun, and when they're at school tomorrow Ian can show me how.

They're spending the rest of the afternoon outside playing (and how cool is it I can actually tell Ian to go outside and play?) and then we're taking him out for dinner (Red Lobster. Where else?) For someone who is usually pointedly unenthusiastic about his birthday, I think he's having a great time, but he's been warned: the bar has been set pretty high for mine.