Quarter of a Century

Marcus turned 25 yesterday!  CRAZY :)  Actually, it's really cool because Marcus is 25 years younger than his dad, and he's 25 years older than Critter.  Patterns are cool :)

Marcus was really excited to open the birthday cards we had sitting on the table all week.  He'd try to open them early, but then he'd change his mind and say he had to wait until his actual birthday.  So right after his alarm went off yesterday, we grabbed the cards.  He had some very nice cards and some money, plus he was given the Back to the Future collectors set.  He looks tired in this picture, but he was grinning all morning.

And Kitty and Critter joined together to get him an avocado slicer and pitter.  They had noticed he eats so many of them and often fights with the pits.

It was pretty funny because on Thursday night, Marcus and I were talking about how he was turning 25.  Honestly, it didn't seem that old to me, but he was realizing how many people in his office are younger than him and at the same level (due to his mission, I'm assuming).  He said he wanted to feel younger.  So I decided to make some birthday cupcakes for him to share with his class.  A lot of people in his office are apparently super health conscious, which was really nice for me since transporting even just a dozen cupcakes to Manhattan on the subway isn't that easy...

I met him at his office at one.  He had taken a "Summer Friday." so he got off early.  It was nice to be able to hang out all day for his birthday.  We had some really good Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches for lunch and then were off to pick out my present for him.  We had decided back when he bought his electric drumset that it would count as his birthday present, but I still wanted to do something for him.  My solution was to get him a practical gift.  He was given three options of items he needs but never seems to want to buy.  I was hoping it would be a good gift, and luckily he seems really happy with his purchase.

We went to one of this big Bed Bath & Beyonds in the city, and Marcus picked out a new pillow.  He desperately needed a new one.  I don't even dare take a picture of the old one, it's so...   Well, he loved it and used it way past its normal lifespan.  :)  After all the walking around the city and the pillow purchasing, we both decided to go home and rest.  

Marcus seemed to enjoy testing out his pillow.

And then our birthday activity time arrived.  We went out to Citi Field to watch the Mets lose.  Not the best game ever, but we had a blast in our crazy nosebleed seats.  It was seriously the top row in the stadium, but they were down the first base line behind home plate.  Really great view of the stadium.  We loved it.

Bill O'Reilly threw the first pitch.

Since we were on the top row, we had a really cool view behind us.  Ignore the fence.

There's Manhattan at night :)

Who would've thought watching a baseball game was so tiring?!  :)  We were ready to head home.  And Marcus had to blow out his birthday candles!  (Apparently the candle was a little too heavy for a cupcake, and it fell over... oops.)

HAPPY 25th MARCUS :)

And now we're on to starting his 26th year.   Of course he wants to start it by watching the first Back to the Future, which coincidently is a 25th anniversary edition.  It's the same age as Marcus!  Cute ;)