Well, I didn’t get a chance to finish my husband’s present, but now he knows what it is, so I can talk about it. I was knitting him a tie, and I am about halfway done, but I was concerned that if I rushed to finish it, I would probably make a lot of mistakes. I’m a pretty new knitter. But, he will get it eventually and I will post the pattern details after it’s done (to make sure it actually works!).

Even without his awesome knitted tie, my husband had a great birthday (I hope!). I gave him two books about the artist Edward Gorey (my husband was an Illustration major in college and graduated with a BFA, and I took several art classes in college, as well, so we have a lot of art books). The books were Floating Worlds: The Letters of Edward Gorey and Peter F. Neumeyer and Elephant House: Or, the Home of Edward Gorey. I will say that I am green with envy over the enormity of Edward Gorey’s book collection, and I really, really wish someone would send me illustrated letters, and I would love to send some back!

I also made him this cute card, using a book called Illustration School: Let’s Draw Happy People by Sachiko Umoto, which I read about in a post by Nicole Balch (of Making It Lovely). I love this little book, and it is so great to be able to draw something that actually looks kind of like I want it to!

I baked him a cake using Wilton’s Basic Yellow Cake and Buttercream Icing, which are the exact same recipes that my mom always used to make our cakes growing up. For me, it’s not a birthday cake if it doesn’t taste like this.

The best part was when, two seconds after this photo was taken, my daughter screamed “Ow ow ow! Daddy! You blew hot wax on me!” (she wasn’t seriously injured) and my son started screaming at the top of his lungs (not from hot wax, but I think from confusion). My stomach hurt from laughing so much.

Happy Birthday to the best husband ever, Damian! XOXO Love you lots!