Happy Birthday Brett!

Happy Birthday Brett! I am so glad your parents decided to keep you despite the little cowboy-booted devil your sister says you were as a child. I think I'll keep you too. No cowboy boots though. (And remember when I asked the other day what we did to deserve Izzy? I think Kristie has the answer!)



Nah really. I think you are the best. The. Best. You are such a laid back guy. Such a good Daddy. Such a thoughtful caring husband. Such a jack of all trades. Who else can whip up a Pottery Barn bunkbed for a fraction of the cost? Who else pounds down ultimate skillets weekly and still manages to lose weight? Who else can sew, juggle, build furniture, repair cars, clean a kitchen in the bat of an eye and answer every question of a four year old boy during a 30 minute drive with patience to spare? Who else can keep their kids captivated nightly with the imaginary adventures of Bob, Bob, and Betty? I could try, but I wouldn't do it right, just ask Anna.



Brett, you are the best husband I've ever had, I really mean it. I hope to never have to replace you. I couldn't find anyone who would know me like you know me. I couldn't find anyone with that same devilish grin of yours either. And let's be honest, there just isn't another guy out there as good as or better than you, not for me anyway. I hope you have a Happy Birthday and know that I love you. I hope you enjoy your birthday getaway with the guys. I'm sure you'll enjoy the gift I got you too. It looks exactly like the mothers day gift you got me. It's yellow, it's in the garage.



Happy Birthday Babe!

I love ya!

For Jill on your Special Day...

Puma comes and Puma goes

Puma wears pumps and pantyhose

Puma whispers in Brett's ear

he smells something funny, Brett dealt it, it's clear

Puma, he sometimes cries in his beer

over lost love, his dead cat, and the scent from Brett's rear

But no not today folks, Puma's beaming with pride

Jill's graduating, finally, his friend, and his ride (if she can get her Mom to come out and push their car back!)

Jill has earned her Ph D-how do you spell this?

Who knows, don't ask me!

But finally she's done it, and gets to move on

no more heckling the staff, no more drafts to write on

She's a doctor for sure and Puma's so giddy

she can write him a script to get out of the city

To take a vacation, get away from his problems

Especially the scent coming from some people's bottoms

From the tops of our heads to the places where we stink

We love you Jill, so much more than you think

We're so proud of you, and Puma is too

For what you've accomplished, except for what you did in the mu-u-udroom.

Congratulations Dr. Jill!
Rawr!

Today's Thoughts

I like this video, and it makes me anxious as well. The scene where the couple is standing in the hallway looking at their family portrait makes me panic. My brother Jim died in the fall. In a helicopter crash. It feels like he just vanished. Disappeared. We don't have a family portrait with ALL of our family in it, and with him. The last pictures taken of all of us were at Caralee's wedding, we don't have one with the 3 youngest grandchildren though. Now it's too late.

I love pictures, hate posing for them, but love to have them after the fact. Pictures are pieces of the past. Tangible memories. Moments that last forever. Something to hold on to... Something to hold on to.

Brett keeps bugging me to schedule an appointment for portraits for our family as we haven't had any since Max was born. Last time I scheduled to have them done Izzy fell and split her face open needing stitches that evening. I feel like if I schedule the event again something bad will inevitably happen. It's a looming feeling. Regardless, I really want a portrait to hold on to this part of our lives, the stages our kids are in now, those beautiful little perfect faces. Even if I'm just being paranoid about things changing, things will change, I know that. Life always changes. I just hope we can get some decent pictures taken so I can quit thinking about it. I also hope that with whatever comes in life, I can feel the gravity of existence with as much optimism and gratitude as Stephanie, and that I can continue to have my sweet family here with me until I'm so old and gray that everyone around me wants to take pictures with me on every occasion to be able to capture their memories of me before I kick it. Also, and God, if you're listening I'd appreciate if I could have Brett's hand in mine until then, and can we die together like in The Notebook? Okay, thanks.