Celebrating another year....

We celebrated Joe's birthday yesterday. It's the first birthday away from our kids, extended family and friends, so we weren't sure how to commemorate the occasion.
I really wanted to do something that made it special and marked the unique environment we are trying to adjust to. I have been racking my brain for days, trying to come up with an appropriate gift, unfortunately he is very hard to buy for, he doesn't often express his want of anything in particular and if there's something he needs for himself, he usually just buys it.
The only thing I could think of was after remembering he had mentioned just in passing that he would like a new wedding ring - after being married for 25 years, his was quite dated and worn, so he was thinking something a little more modern and stylish.
The only problem with purchasing a gift for him is that, he is always with me, we go into town at least two times a week to do the banking and any other incidental tasks that need attending to. So this morning, I just told him I was going into town to pick up a few things and without question, he simply said, 'ok'.

After agonising over a couple of really gorgeous wedding bands, I finally decided to go with the more expensive one, only because I fell in love with it, but also because I felt he deserved to be spoiled, firstly because he is such a hard worker and never asks for anything for himself, worrying only about everyone else's needs and desires and secondly because he very lovingly and patiently puts up with me, my insecurities, my pms and my constant whinging!
I got them to gift wrap it, bought a special birthday card and stopped at the bakery and bought 2 slices a mudcake (so very naughty)!
When I got home I wrote in the card, put some sparklers in his piece of mudcake then called him upstairs to give him his gift.
He was so surprised and told me he wouldn't have guessed in a million years that that was what I was up to, which made it even more perfect.
He really, really loves it and an extra special added bonus was that it was the perfect size.
The only thing I had to go on was a pretty mangled old ring of his that, firstly I had to find and after the recent move, was not an easy task, the poor old thing even has a split in the band which made it even more difficult for them to estimate the size.
So all in all a very successful exercise with an equally satisfying outcome.
It is so cute, a couple of times I've caught him looking down at his hand to check out the new bling. I think he really likes it.
We made reservations for the Rusty Anchor in Gladstone, a restaurant that was recommended to us by one of our reps. It was ok, really nothing to rave about, but at the same time not an awful experience. We stopped in at the bottle shop on the way home for a little bottle of red, then we just relaxed for the rest of the evening.
A day well spent and Joe expressed many times how grateful he was for the effort and how special it made him feel but also he made it very clear how unnecessary all the fuss was!

___________________________________________________________

Earlier in the week, I got a phone call from Jo Monique asking if I would be interested in designing a DL flyer to advertise the new plus size womens store in Southport which she is managing, her and her boss were really happy with what I came up with. They are opening a new store in Beenleigh early next year and will be wanting a catalogue advertising their range - I'm very excited about the prospect of doing that for them.

_______________________________________________________

On the Mum and Dad front, I was so glad to hear that my Mum and Dad had finally gotten into Brissy to see some of Dads family. It's taken a few weeks for Mum to feel well enough to make the trip. She has started on accupuncture treatment, which seems to have had miraculous results, everyone is rapt with the difference it has made to her and with that the ripple effect it's having on Dad, it's like a weight has been lifted and he is so grateful to James and Kelli for being so welcoming and supportive, we all are.
We are looking forward to a visit from Mum and Dad at the end of the month. Joe and I have a UCB conference (for work) on the Gold Coast on the 20th-24th staying at Jupiters Casino - very exciting!! So we'll bring them back up here with us then and James and Kelli will come up a week or two after that to take them back home again.
We got a call from them last night to wish Joe a happy birthday and when I was talking to Mum, it was like I was speaking to a completely different person.
They had been out to Pauly's place (friend of James) and had a bit of a karaoke session, Dad who has a brilliant singing voice made himself at home with the mic and my mother was one of the back up dancers!!!
She sounded so happy relaying the night back to me, I just wish I could have been there to see it for myself. James told me he has it on video and Dad made a date for a duo between himself and I for when we are there next week.
We'll get Mum and Joe up to do the shoop-shoop for us as well! I'll try and get it on video and post it next time I update the blog - Yeah, I know, now you're either really scared now or just very amused!