31

THE MAN OF THE HOUSE TURNED 31 YESTERDAY. 

 AFTER PULLING OFF A SURPRISE WEEKEND AWAY, INCLUDING TRIPS TO A BREWERY AND CASINO WITH CLOSE PALS FOR HIS 30TH BIRTHDAY, I FELT THAT I COULDN'T LET THE DAY PASS WITHOUT A FEW SPECIAL TREATS.  SURPRISING MY MAN BROUGHT ME SO MUCH  JOY THAT I DECIDED TO DO IT AGAIN; HOWEVER, ON A MUCH SMALLER SCALE. WITH HIS DAY STACKED WITH SURGERIES (OR SO WE THOUGHT), I BEGAN THE DAY WITH A QUICK SHOWER, BUT SKIPPED PRIMPING AS I WANTED MY LOOK TO BE FRESH FOR OUR BIG NIGHT OUT.  HE HAD SPENT THE PREVIOUS DAY MENTIONING HOW BUSY HIS DAY WOULD BE, SO I FIGURED I HAD ALL DAY TO PREPARE.  PER THE LITTLE LADY'S REQUEST, WE HEADED TO METCALFE'S (A GROCER'S DELIGHT), WITH ONLY ONE ITEM ON OUR LIST, BUT WERE ENTICED TO PURCHASE A FEW MORE ONCE WE PASSED THE BAKERY SECTION - DONUTS FOR A MID-MORNING SNACK AND PETIT FOURS (JEFF'S FAVORITE).  AND, WE COULDN'T PASS UP A BOUQUET OF BRIGHTLY COLORED DAISIES TO ADD TO OUR MERRY MOOD.  ONCE HOME, I RECEIVED A TEXT FROM JEFF INDICATING THAT CASES HAD BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE AFTERNOON AND WOULD I LIKE SUBWAY FOR LUNCH (VEGGIE, OF COURSE.)  WITH NO TIME TO LOSE, I FED THE CHILDREN, PUT THEM TO BED, APPLIED MY MAKE-UP AND WHIPPED UP A PEANUT BUTTER PIE FOR THE BIRTHDAY BOY.  JEFF ARRIVED HOME TO A QUIET HOUSEHOLD AND BEAUTIFIED WIFE.  WE ENJOYED A QUIET HOUR ON THE COUCH TOGETHER EATING, WATCHING TV AND DOZING, THAT IS UNTIL THE LITTLE MAN DECIDED TO CUT HIS NAP SHORT.   APPARENTLY, EVERYONE WANTED A SPECIAL MOMENT ALONE WITH DADDY ON HIS BIRTHDAY.  THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON PLAYED OUT AS A TYPICAL THURSDAY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PRESENTS AND PETIT FOUR SNACKS.  THE PLAN WAS TO "ORDER PIZZA" AND DINE PEACEFULLY WITH THE LITTLE LADY ONCE THE LITTLE FELLA WAS DOWN FOR THE NIGHT.  PROMPTLY AT 6:59 I BROUGHT THE LITTLE MAN UPSTAIRS AND ASKED JEFF TO GO DOWNSTAIRS TO WAIT FOR THE PIZZA.  AFTER A BUTTERFLY-FILLED MOMENT OF ROCKING OUR SON, I LAID HIM IN HIS CRIB, SPRAYED ON PERFUME, REMOVED MY SWEATSHIRT (CONCEALING MY EVENING LOOK), AND OPENED OUR BEDROOM DOOR.  I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND JEFF DIRECTLY OUTSIDE OUR DOOR.  WITH A SLY SMILE HE ASKED, "SHOULD I CHANGE?"  WITH MOUNTING EXCITEMENT I TOLD HIM TO HEAD TO THE LITTLE LADY'S CLOSET WHERE HE WOULD FIND HIS CLOTHES FOR THE EVENING.  I GRABBED MY EARRINGS OFF THE BOOK SHELF (CLEVERLY POSITIONED), AND MY FLATS FROM BEHIND A CHAIR AND SCURRIED OFF TO CELEBRATE THE SURPRISE WITH OUR BABYSITTER.  THE POOR LITTLE LADY HAD TO BE COMFORTED AS SHE REALIZED 1) HER PARENTS WOULD BE LEAVING FOR THE NIGHT (I COULD NOT TELL HER AS SHE CAN NO LONGER KEEP A SECRET!) AND 2) THERE WOULD BE NO PIZZA TO CONSUME.  WITH A MARSHMALLOW BUNNY (TO SOFTEN THE BLOW) AND A FEW QUICK SMOOCHES FOR THE LITTLE LADY,  WE WERE OFF TO ENJOY THE NIGHT.  THE BIRTHDAY NIGHT CULMINATED WITH A DELICIOUS DINNER OUT WITH FRIENDS, A LOT OF LAUGHTER, A RELAXED AND GRATEFUL HUSBAND, AND A SLICE OF PEANUT BUTTER PIE. 

IT WAS PERFECT.  HIS SMILE SAID IT ALL.

I THINK 31 IS GOING TO BE A GOOD YEAR.

THE GIVING OF THE GIFTS.  HE WAS EXCITED TO RECEIVE NEW RUNNING SHORTS, THE SOCIAL ANIMAL BY DAVID BROOKS, AND AN ESV BIBLE.

BIRTHDAY CHEESE.

THE LITTLE LADY ANNOUNCED SHE WOULD BE "READING" THE CARDS THIS YEAR.

APPARENTLY, SHE FINDS HER MOTHER'S WORDS OF WIFELY AFFECTION HILARIOUS.

WE ARE BLESSED.

WHILE I DO NOT APPRECIATE ALL ASPECTS OF THIS PICTURE I DO LOVE IT FOR TWO REASONS - 1) MY MAN IS PLANTING A TREASURED BIG ONE ON ME AND 2) MY LITTLE MAN LOOKS REPULSED THAT ANOTHER HUMAN BEING IS SHOWING ME AFFECTION. (HE CONTINUES TO THINK HE IS MY ONE AND ONLY, AND WHY SHOULDN'T HE?!)

PETIT FOURS FOR THREE

I LOVE YOU, SWEET HUSBAND. 

 MY WORLD IS BETTER BECAUSE OF YOU - MY YEARS MORE EXCITING, MY DAYS MORE JOYFUL, MY HOURS FILLED WITH ANTICIPATION FOR YOUR RETURN, AND MY MINUTES DEVOTED TO YOU AND OUR FAMILY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO TURNING 32 WITH YOU.