Darin's B-day!

We are getting "old"!  And I think it shows in our celebrations, as of late.  They no longer include the all-out parties, groups of friends, decked out cakes, loud music, games, etc.  We are just happy to be together as a family.  Perhaps, we might invite over one other family to help us celebrate.

Darin's 42nd B-day was no different.  With it being so close to Christmas (December 23rd) it often gets overlooked.  Maybe that is why it is always so low-key.  Now, that I think about it, Darin threw a big surprise b-day for me this last August with a ton of friends.  I stand corrected.

Even so, Darin's party was not a "rager" in any sense of the word, but it was perfect.  We love to make Sushi, so we invited a family in our neighborhood to come make Sushi with us.  They had never eaten it before, let alone make it, so it was a real adventure for them.  Darin picked up some raw Ahi (tuna) to put in the rolls, as well as some crab meat (for the newbies).  We taught them how to prepare the California Rolls (a.k.a. no raw fish), including cream cheese, cucumbers, carrots, avocado, pickled ginger, and crab (if desired), and of course the rice.  Not that we are experts, by all means, but they turn out so pretty.  They look like a work of art, literally, after they are sliced and placed on a platter.  And they taste divine, as well.

Unfortunately, I did not get any photos of us that night making the Sushi Rolls, but I did take some of the ones I made the next day with the left overs for the Christmas Eve party we were going to.  Here they are:

Yum!  Although we didn't have a huge party for Darin's birthday, it was filled with good food, good company, and casual conversation, which was perfect for that night.  We also had some sweet and sour chicken that our friends brought over, and we finished the meal off with Angel Food Cake  topped with strawberries and whipped cream (Darin's favorite).  So, with that, I wish you a Happy Birthday, Love!