Happy Birthday, Honey

I know I've been gone from the blog for a while, but I've got a really good reason for reappearing today. But first - the lame excuses for not blogging for over a week. The whole family has had a full calender lately, and time has been flying by. Katie has been getting ready for the end of her sixth grade school year. She's had her plate full with her choir concert, getting her yearbook, cleaning out her locker, taking pictures of friends at school, and final exams. Payt has been busy being a seven year old boy, going to school, doing his homework, then getting immersed in Playstation and making forts in the family room, and waiting impatiently for the pools at two of the grandparents' houses to be warm enough to swim in. And of course, Kirk and I have been busy with the mystery shopping tavern work and writing the reports. On top of all that, I've been working on the articles and my book - as well as reading a lot.

My really good reason for showing back up today is to share and celebrate my hubby's birthday with you all.

He's the greatest guy, my best friend, and a wonderful, caring and devoted husband and dad.

Did I ever tell you that when I was eleven my mom tried to get me to learn how to make a Thanksgiving turkey and I refused? When she asked what I was going to do when I grew up I answered, " I'm going to marry a man that cooks."

Guess what?

My husband is an amazing cook - I prefer his special creations over the fanciest restaurants. He has his own signature dishes like homemade tacos, which is a recipe that started with my dad's mom, she gave it to my mom, and then Mom gave it to Kirk. After a few tweaks, the whole family agrees he's made an amazing meal even better.
Then there is his garlic and wine steamers. Yes, steamed clams - and this is coming from a girl who wouldn't eat any seafood but lobster or crab until about 10 years ago. He has even convinced me to try halibut - and I loved it.
And I cannot forget to mention his chicken creole, which was the first meal he ever cooked for me when we were dating.
And all because of his talents in the kitchen - he's opened my mind to a whole new world of food I never would have tried before.

He's also a guy's guy without being a knuckle-dragging caveman. He'll stay up all night playing poker with his friends, go fishing and camping, and can fix most of the electronic gadgetry around the house. But he also never hesitated in changing diapers, getting up in the middle of the night to give the kids a bottle, or kissing scraped knees and other boo-boos. He's one of the few men I know that doesn't see jobs around the house - or even outside the house - in a specific male / female category. We've divided the chores according to what we like to do (his cooking) or hate to do (my cooking) don't mind (my laundry) or just can't get the hang of (his laundry). Everything else gets done by one or both of us - if it gets done at all!

Aside from all that stuff - he's one of the most funny, snarky, and witty people I've ever known. We have the same twisted sense of humor, and can have fun doing the most ordinary things - even running errands or grocery shopping. He's taught me to play poker and Euchre and a few other card games, he plays my trivia games with me, and there's no rabid competition or ego-bruising no matter who wins.

I think back on how lucky I was - and how close I came to never meeting him at all. My close friend Beck kept trying to hook me up with a long-time friend of hers and I refused for months. The night I finally gave in and agreed to meet him changed my life. Literally.

I was so sure that it wasn't going to turn into anything that Beck and I invited him to join us and a bunch of friends at a bar whose bartender I was then dating! We were all just drinking beer and chatting when Beck suddenly got up and ran the door, jumping up and hugging this big tree of a guy with shoulder length hair, a beard and a UW Huskies sweatshirt. My friend CJ said, "Who's that?" and I answered, "I guess that's Kirk." In my head I was thinking, "THAT'S Kirk? That's the guy I've been avoiding all these months?" We talked and laughed all night, and his sense of humor impressed me immediately. Well, that and he was taller than me (a rarity) and darn good-looking!

I went back home that night, walked past my mother and made a beeline for my room. I sat on the floor of my closet with my chin on my knees and my arms wrapped around my folded legs. I think I was rocking back and forth - and maybe I was mumbling too. Beck stood outside the open closet door, laughing at me. My mom walked up to Beck and said, "What the matter with her?" Beck barely stopped laughing long enough to say, "She met Kirk." I looked at my mom and said, "I met the guy I'm going to marry." I just knew it.
I seriously was not expecting it. It scared the crap out of me. I thought it was just some silly little blind date - I was just going to meet him once and make Beck shut the hell up.

I met him 15 years ago this past January, and we'll be married 14 years in October.

Honey, I'm so glad I finally listened to Beck when she kept telling me she just knew we were right for each other. You are still my most favorite person in the whole wide world - and we've created two incredible kids together. You've always been supportive of my dreams - no matter how far-fetched anyone else thought they were.

I am the luckiest, most spoiled wife with the most wonderful husband I could ever ask for.

I love you ... Forever and Always. xoxoxoxo