30!

June 14th marked Clay's 30th birthday!  We celebrated a few different ways. 



First, on Clay's actual birthday we had a fun date night with Clay's business partner, Kyle and his wife Rachel.  We enjoyed a "concert" not sure if thats what to call it and dinner at Mucky Duck. 

Side note:  The Mucky Duck is one of Clay's favorite places in Houston.  It is a dark, small Irish pub-type place with tons of great musicians that play there each month.  It is a very small venue, with a mellow crowd, well they are mellow so long as everyone is quiet, they tend to get their feathers ruffled if anyone is talking or being loud.  This place is not for socializing but for actually listening to the music.  The Mucky Duck features a lot of Texas Country-type musicians as well as others.  Previously we've seen Bruce Robison (if you don't recognize the name you would recognize many of his songs...he wrote Travelin Soldier covered by Dixie Chicks and Wrapped covered by George Strait) and we also loved Jimmy LaFave. 

So for Clay's birthday, Willis Allen Ramsey was playing.  He was great, when he played, and when he remembered the words to the song.  I could not tell if he was just getting old, or as he said "had spent to much time in the sun today", or if he had lived up the life of a musician a little to long (if you get my drift.)  Anyway we had a great time with friends, a great dinner and enjoyed great music.

So I also threw Clay a surprise birthday party.  The Saturday after his actual birthday I told Clay that I had dinner plans for us and that we were meeting his best friend Joe and his fiance Melissa before dinner.  The place we were supposed to meet Joe and Melissa (Armadillo Palace) was were the party was held.


And though he had gotten a mixed message or two from one of his clients.  It was still pretty much a surprise to him!  He walked into Armadillo Palace to a room full of friends and family.  Clay was so blessed with many showing up to celebrate with him.  Several friends even made the trip in from the DFW area.  We enjoyed an awesome BBQ dinner (Armadillo Palace is owned by Goode Co...yum!), drinks, yummy cake and lots of catching up, laughter and fun.  Thanks to everyone who came and helped make his 30th birthday such a special one!

Happy birthday Clay!


Lauren with Houston Cakes and Bakery did a great job on Clay's cake. She designed the cake based off the invitation.


Armadillo Palace has tons of western decor, so I didn't do much decorations. I did do these photo centerpieces. Clay'd heads on sticks, on the back of each head was the year the photo was taken. I tried to do one photo for each year and only missed one or two years.


One of only two photos of us. Photo taken by our friend Christa. Thanks Christa! I need to get out from behind the camera more often. :)


So many great friends and Clay's real estate buddies came. Clay was very humbled by all the love!



My parents, my sister and Riley


Clay's parents, sister and an uncooperative Riley


Clays sister, Will, and Riley


Clay with his bff from 7th grade-ish, Joe.


I had the people attending the birthday party give me a few words that came to mind when they thought of Clay. The could be silly, serious, whatever. I used the words to make a collage and framed it for his office. It turned out great and he loved it. It was also great for me to see what characteristics others saw in Clay. So many choose the words honest and genuine and that is sooo true!


Riley happily rode the cow until she got tired then she wanted DOWN!


Riley ended the night with a little dancing with Daddy.

The party carried on late into the night. We had a blast celebrating!