Sammy & Ilna - love you both to the moon and back. Thank you for being you.

REALMcRollers and Readers - Much, much appreciation and hugs.

Party Day

"Birfday party...i's DJ birfday party day…" Angie sung to herself as she walked down the hall to her parents' room.

"She's awake before the birthday party boy," Catherine observed as she threw her legs over the side of the bed and sat up.

"She was up helping Gracie with the balloons an hour past her bedtime, too."

"Then she fell asleep at the table." Catherine grinned.

"You should have seen her discussing with Gracie how today isn't DJ's real birthday but we're having the party today because it's not a work day or a school day so everyone can come," Steve said as he watched Cammie rise and move to the bedroom door seconds before Angie did her usual open handed door slap, calling, "Mommy, Daddy, you get up?"

"Shhh, baby girl, we're up. But let's not wake up DJ yet, we want to wake him up with the birthday party song, right?" Catherine told the three year old as Steve lifted her for a hug. "You go potty and I'll get the present ready, okay?"

"Okay!" She was off towards the bathroom with Catherine in tow the minute Steve placed her feet on the ground, her voice carrying back to him as she said, "Den present for DJ 'cause i's party day but we saving a surprise for his real birfday too. Shhhhhhhh."

DJ opened his eyes at the sound of the little giggles his excited sister couldn't suppress to see his family, human and furry, as they sang Happy Birthday Party Day to the tune of Happy Birthday.

"Good morning, birthday party boy," Catherine greeted him with a kiss to his forehead as Angie hoisted herself onto his bed for a hug. "Happy Birfday DJ! I's you party day!" She flung her arms in the air even though she wasn't totally clear on the difference.

"Happy birthday party day, buddy," Steve ran a hand over his son's hair and bent to kiss him. "How's it feel being almost eight?"

"DJ eight, Mommy," Angie echoed and the others chuckled as her mother said, "He's a big boy, huh?"

"I don't really feel different," the nearly eight year old said. "Eight feels kinda like seven, but I can do more stuff this year, right, Daddy?"

"That's right." Steve lifted Angie off the bed as her brother got up. "And you're getting stronger and smarter every day."

DJ's eyes lit and his smile grew as he looked around. Once again his parents had come in after he was asleep and added a Happy 8th Birthday Party Day DJ banner and red and blue balloons decorated with Happy Birthday Party Day and 8 by Angie with Grace's help, around the room.

"You surprised me again, I didn't hear you at all! When Daddy put my Cubs sheets on so I could be surprised when I got in bed and I could wake up on them, I didn't hear either." He grinned. "That's why Aunt Mary says you're like a ninja."

"The sheets were going to be for your actual birthday on Monday, but someone couldn't wait," Catherine said with a teasing smile for Steve.

"Don't let her fool you," Steve said with a grin. "Mommy was no less eager."

DJ hugged them both again as he stood. "I love them so much! And the decorations are so awesome. Thank you!"

"I made da balloons with Grace," Angie announced.

"Thanks, Angie, you did so good. I love 'em."

Steve and Catherine exchanged a smile as their daughter beamed at her brother's praise.

"What does my big boy want for breakfast?" his mother asked with a grin.

"Pancakes with whipped cream and sprinkles?"

"YAY!" Angie clapped, causing Cammie to do a whirling dance.

"Okay, Daddy is gonna start breakfast while I take Cammie out. Let's all get downstairs. After we eat we have a party to get ready for."

After a quick stop in the bathroom, DJ entered the kitchen to the word, "Su'prise!" from Angie followed by, "I's a s'rfboard for you' birfday!"

"Wow!" He moved to run a hand over the red and blue board Steve was holding up. "It's a Cubs one and it's got my name on it!" He wrapped Steve in a tight hug before turning to do the same to Catherine. "Thank you!" He looked up at his father. "It's bigger than my old one."

"You're getting so good at surfing and so tall it was time for a new board. Mommy and I are happy you like it."

"Can we surf later?"

"We can do whatever you want." Steve propped the board in a corner of the kitchen. "I'm sure Uncle Chin and Aunt Kono will want to see your new board."

"Yay! I love it so much. It's the best one ever. Wait..." His eyes danced. "Did Grandma Ang see it?"

"Not yet," Catherine said with a smile as she placed juice and milk on the table.

"She's gonna love it!"

"She definitely will." She poured some milk for both kids as Steve made the pancakes. "She'll see it later when she comes for the party."

"Awesome," he said with a smile. "Cause I love them a lot but nobody loves the Cubs like Grandma Ang."

Steve poured batter onto the griddle and as Catheirne moved past him to grab the sprinkles, he nodded towards DJ who loved his great grandma's favorite team so much. "She loves that he's a fan even more."

Kissing her husband's cheek and she went to place the sprinkles down, she nodded. "She one hundred percent does."

"... and Mommy and Daddy decorated my room again when I was asleep and I didn't even hear them a little!" DJ leaned towards the smiling face on the propped up tablet. "Then I got a new surfboard, a Cubs one! Even though I'm getting presents at my party." His voice still held the excitement from that morning. "We couldn't wait so we went for a swim and tried out my new board right after breakfast."

"How wonderful." Deb winked at her great nephew. "I saw the videos, your Mommy sent them to my phone."

Angie grinned and added, "DJ standed on Daddy in da water, Ann Deb!"

"He did? Oh my, did you play the piggy-back game?"

"Yeah, Mommy had Angie and I was on Daddy's shoulders for the game. Then after, I stood up like ..." He faced his mother. "What's it called, Mommy?"

"An acrobat."

"Yeah, like that."

"I jumped off Daddy's head." Angie giggled.

"You silly girl," Deb chuckled. "I wonder where she gets it?" She raised a brow at Steve.

"You mean climbing her father like monkey bars to jump in the water?" Catherine and Deb laughed. "Gee, I have no idea."

"Okay, my darlings, I'm going to let you go because I know your guests will be there soon. Enjoy the rest of your birthday party day, DJ. Bye bye, Angie." Her smile encompassed them all. "Bye, you two. Love you all."

"Bye, Aunt Deb, love you!" rang out as the screen went dark and Steve leaned in to kiss Catherine's temple.

Angie looked up at her parents and shook her head vigorously. "No time for kisses, Daddy! I's time for DJ's party!"

TBC on Monday please join us!

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