Happy birthday, Sweetie.

We love you.

Surprise!

It takes a lot to pull one over on Dad, so after weeks of planning, the day is finally here! To really throw him off, we secretly planned for him to take the day off, the day BEFORE his birthday. The kids put so much love and thought into surprising him, and here's what they came up with:

• Allow Dad to sleep in (per Mommy's insistance, oooh, so hard!)
• Treat Dad to his fave, a fried egg sandwhich at the neighborhood diner. We are big egg sammich fans, but because of True's allergies we can't have eggs in the house. So this is an unusual treat. Right up there with PB&Js.
• Treat Dad to a round of Mini Golf, at the nearby "Happy Family Fun Center" (dubbed by True), which is one of those places you will probably never see me. Unless my kids planned it for my husband's birthday.
• Lunch: Dad's choice. I'm sure it will either be A. Another sandwhich, B. A slice of pizza, or C. Dick's burgers. Ewwww. Again, only on E's birthday.
• Home for a nap/uninterupted time with the Xbox while I fend off the kids.
• This is the kicker: For E's birthday, the kids got the idea that they MUST set up an obstacle course. In our back yard. Hmmm.
• Lastly, we will wrap it up in a manner that is as much selfish for me as it is a treat for Ethan. A babysitter. This will get us out of the witching hour, while we dine at La Medusa, and then turn in fat and happy.

No gift, you say? No, no gift. We are big on birthdays around here, and will probably never be the couple that only buys for the kids. But this year, my husband decided to purchase two big-ticket items for himself. On the month of his birthday. In this economy. Thanks, honey. I mean I know it's out of character for you and all, but geesh. So we now have a ping pong table (?!) and a home gym. And so, happy birthday, E. This year, it's mini golf, obstacle course, and dinner. I guess it's original!

I love this man.

I am so blessed to have him. He is just what I need, and God knew it. We're going on nine years married this fall, and while E feels his stomach grumble at the thought of turning 37 this week, I think he is going to ROCK this year! Here's why you're the best, Honey:

*You make a killer pizza.

*You get up with the kids nearly every morning before work so I can run, pray, and start my day.

*You have seen me through the good, the bad, and the ugly, and with such love and adoration.

*You're kids feel so lucky to have the silliest dad they know.

*This Spring, you decided to get your act together and take care of yourself. Look at you now, honey! (He's going to kill me for putting that swimsuit shot here!) You kick booty on the Kung Fu mat, in the home gym, and at the three-mile loop near our house- with kids in tow on the bike trailer.

*You keep your morals and your beliefs right in front of you at work, in the often greedy field of finance. Your clients trust you, and you don't take that for granted.

*You are the meanest penalty kicker, ping ponger, and all-elbows hoop shooter I've ever watched, and I mean that in a good way.

*You provide, you love, you lead.

We love you, Sweetie. Here's to another fabulous 37 years of your very lived life.

Old standby.

This never gets old.

A little shaving cream, a little food coloring, and a sprinkler. And lots and lots of smiles.

I don't even want to know...

I don't even want to know what bacteria is living in our hose. I don't often subscribe to the theory, "Well, we all did it and we turned out fine, right?" But in this case, ignorance is bliss. Plus, they're just so darned happy.

Joy.

Wanna know what pure joy looks like? This is all it takes to make my little man happy.

Chinese camp.

Carsen just completed her Chinese summer camp. During the school year, we're lucky enough to have the PTA foot the bill for Mandarin lessons three days a week in all classrooms K-5. Carsen has always shown great interest in other cultures and languages, which ofcourse is a big hit with us parents, so when this camp was offered for two weeks this summer, we had to jump on board. At first, she was pretty apprehensive. Summer had just begun, it was as long as the school day, and somehow she was placed in an entirely different class than any of her school friends. In the end, she has a handful of new friends from around the community, her grasp on Mandarin was really strengthened, and she was oh so proud on the last day of camp, when Ethan, True, and I showed up for a little celebration. The kids sang and danced, and gave us atour of all their hard work over the course of the camp. We came home with maps, lanterns, art, worksheets, you name it. And all of which Carsen can explain to us in Mandarin.

I have a theory though. I think she gets a kick out of this mostly because she can do something the rest of her family can't. This is so very Carsen!