my guy is thirty!!

how i love to celebrate this man. 

the birthday guy insisted on helping with prep... he spent all day at the smoker cooking up the perfect pulled pork. i know everyone who got a taste was glad he decided to help ;o).

and the best gift wrap award goes to michael & johnese... put a bird on it!! if you haven't seen this portlandia sketch, you're missing out ;o).

it warmed my heart to have so many people come celebrate ry. i know he felt SO loved. and like all the best celebrations we have- there is very little photo documentation :o(.
next stop to celebrate ry- VEGAS!

leaving max was a little harder than we thought, so we got the fun started as soon as possible.

we stayed at one of our absolute faves- new york, new york!

we ended up with an upgrade to our room (very slight- not really even noticeable, but hey!), but still had to laugh when this was our view. the only other time we stayed at NYNY, we went to bed and woke up hearing the clicking of the roller coaster and the shrieks from the riders. glad it didn't disappoint us this time... "click, click, click, click- aahhhhhh."

if you know ry & i, you know we are not big slots players. that said, after a trip to vegas with our favorite slots players (my parents :o)), we figured out it's the best way to drink on the cheap. sit down, put a dollar in a machine, and wait for a cocktailer to bring you your drink ;o).

i'm pretty sure this ticket shows that we won $12 :o). for people who are not big gamblers- we count that as a win!!

we missed max a ton, but it was precious time spent together focusing on each other. ryan, you are such a gift to me and max. i can't wait to spoil you for the next thirty, and thirty after that.