Claudio is one year older!

For those of you that haven't marked your calendars, Claudio turned 37 this year on December 27th. We had two, yes, not one but TWO, birthday parties for him this year. One with his friends and one with his family.

If you celebrate your birthday close to the holidays, you know all too well of those whom are tempted to take the "two in one" approach to gifting. It is for this reason I do not mind cooking up two parties, after all, I am the hostess with the mostest!

However, after my two day extravaganza with cooking for Christmas, and the unbearable heat that has been shining upon us, I decided to do what any good wife would do...order out! I ordered empanadas and heated up pre-made pizzas, kept the ice cold beer a flowin and it was a success! Except, of course the cakes. They were two layers of homemade decadence involving brownies and cream, caramel and chocolate, pure mouth watering gluttony.

The following day, I did, however, cook up a nice meal for the family, the typical steak and potatoes with a side salad, of which, you can never go wrong.

As for presents, while I would love to take the gold prize this year for "most sentimental present," our nieces came in first place. They put together a miniature futbol (soccer) kit for daddy and child with matching T-shirts, one that says, "It is not about winning or losing, it is about playing and being Canalla (Canalla is a word to describe those that are fans of Rosario Central, Claudio's team) And the other says, "I am from my daddy's team."
Needless to say, tear filled eyes were involved.