bridal shower cake

I found a similar design online and fell in love with the love birds.

our star goalie

(who gets a whole lot of applause from the opposing teams)

Oh Davyn.

going through Aidan's papers

My first grader comes home with a. lot. of. paper.  Inevitably, there's a daily pile left on the couch or table or floor each morning as he re-sorts his backpack.  I quickly sift through, keep what needs keeping, but toss most of it. 

I was about to toss this one, but then actually stopped to read the sentences.  Which were alarming.  Nevermind the poor spelling and handwriting, look what happens in my son's brain when he has to write his own sentences with these four words:  babies, parties, stories, ladies.

The "I have stories in my underwear" is alarming, but a typical Aidan shock statement.  My real worry is in the next line.  The one with double exclamation marks. 

I officially have two boys who get positively dreamy about beautiful women.  2 out of 2.  Ages 6 and 5.  It seems like this shouldn't happen until 14 at the earliest.  Aren't all females supposed to have cooties at this stage?!

What to do?

6 months.

Every day you change.  But this is my Azure Now (at 6 months). 

Sit up.

Drool.

Eat.

Scoot.

Drool.

Bottom left tooth.

Eat.

Hands and knees rocking. 

Drool.

Huge smiles. 

Screech.

Cuddle.

Sleep.

Your dad called me Amy Soon when we were engaged.  And what initially seemed like an interminable amount of time flew quickly.  I look at your next six months with that perspective already gained.  Azure Soon will be crawling, walking, talking, chewing, (destroying!) and continuing to Delight us All. 

Thank you for the Love & Light you bring to Us.   

happy birthday my Jim.

By the time I even thought about taking a picture (Monday morning), this was all that remained of your birthday festivities.  I downed the last bites of german chocolate myself.  I know that's not birthday kosher really, but the remaining morsels were just that - morsels, crumbs, nearly nada.

I didn't really think twice about those last bites, but I have to admit that I do feel guilt every time your birthday rolls around.  I easily go all out with surprises for the kids' birthdays, but yours always leaves me mystified.  What to buy?  Where to go?  What to do?  How to make it special? 

Of our eight together, there was only one year that I successfully birthdayed you.  No, make that two.  The year of the surprise honeymoon hotel getaway.  And the year of the naughty cake (which seemed to surprise you even more than the getaway).  But there have been some terribly dismal years to make up for the glory of those two. 

Not doing a proper birthday job wouldn't be such a big deal if you weren't a birthday Genius yourself.  You're a great gift giver.  And I'm not just talking about Vita-Mixes or shiny new rims.  My all-time-favorite was a few years ago.  You went to work as usual.  A half hour later I heard a knock on the door.  Opened it to see you.  It couldn't have been more lovely a sight if you'd wrapped yourself in a big red bow.  Surprise!  You were mine for the day. 

For some reason, I've felt that same surprise a lot of late.  It's a lovely sight to have you be mine for the Day and the Duration.  You look at me, bemused, when I cheesily say "thanks for being born" or the infamous, "I like you."  But, your birthday or mine, YOU are my favorite gift.

And definitely the greatest Surprise of my life. 

Happy 36, my Love.