Welcoming Home the Newest Member of the Family: Diego

Gardening Mom celebrated her birthday on Monday, and we had a surprise for her that all of us had been having a real hard time keeping secret!

This little guy was the surprise!

Gardening Mom had mentioned about a month ago how badly she wanted this little orange kitten that Handsome Husband had shown her (a friend of his had a cat that had a litter of kittens), and she spent weeks trying to convince Hat Dad to let her bring home this little ginger kitty.  Hat Dad was not having it (or so she thought) and assured her that no, we were not adopting yet another animal friend (we currently have a seriously disabled Pug, and a Siamese cat we are pretty sure is gay).  What Gardening Mom didn't know was that a few weeks ago, Hat Dad told me it was all a facade, and asked if I could set up bringing this little kitten home for Mom's birthday!  And set it up, I (but really mostly Handsome Husband) did!

Last Sunday, Handsome Husband and myself, along with Sister Swimmer and Sister Singer, trekked it down to San Diego (San Marcos area to be exact) to pick up this sweet little kitten and his brother, who went to on of HH's coworkers.

We got to spend an hour in the car with the little brothers, and grew more attached to one of the kittens (though they both were so. freaking. adorable), so we claimed that one as Gardening Mom's new kitty! 

On the ride back up to Orange County, the kittens

looked around curiously, 

did a little cuddling,

and took a short snooze.

After we made it back to Suburban Paradise, Handsome Husband (always the driver on trips in this family) finally got to spend some quality time with the little guys.  

It was love at first sight.

The two little kittens spent one night together at HH's coworkers house so we could surprise Gardening Mom on her birthday the next day.

And this is how they slept together.

After Handsome Husband got off work, he picked up our new family member and brought him home to wait for Gardening Mom to get there!

He had a little formula,

and he also has a taste for Starbucks.

After giving Gardening Mom her other birthday presents (each complete with a birthday card with a cat on the front!), HH brought the kitten down to give to her.  She was so surprised and happy, and has been smitten with the little guy ever since.

Gardening Mom named our new friend Diego, in honor of where he is from, and also because she is just sassy like that.

I hope you had the best birthday ever and loved your birthday surprise, Gardening Mom!

There's still plenty of time to enter my first-ever GIVEAWAY.  I'm giving away an adorable handmade apron made by Nurse So Craft at Pink Sparkle and Lace, and accepting entries until June 14!