HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

33 YEARS OLD TODAY

33 Reasons Why I'm glad Sam was born:

1. His laugh.
2. His eyes.
3. His gestures. (Throwing the money away gesture...or the running away gesture when he's looking behind him, eyebrows raised...the pinky gesture when he's trying to make a strong point, I'm crazy for all of them!)
4. He's driven. He never stops trying to be better and better.
5. He makes me laugh every single day.
6. He writes the most beautiful notes/cards/letters.
7. He knows a something about everything.
8. When he asked me to marry him, he got down on both knees.
9. He never, ever gives up on me. Ever.
10. He's honest.
11. I never have to remind him spend time with our kids. As hard as he works, he always makes time for them.
12 His smile makes my day.
13. Middle-of-the-night word challenge.
14. Middle-0f-the-night Haiku challenge (this one is new).
15. Long, spontaneous drives to new places in Utah that we haven't seen before.
16. His Cologne collection. (He always smells soooo good).
17. His morning shave routine.
18. He lets me warm my freezing feet with his toasty toes under the covers.
19. His compassionate nature. He sees everyone as human and is the least judgemental person I know.
20. He's quick to forgive.
21. The thoughtful gifts and surprises he gives out of the blue.
22. His music. I love listening to him play and sing.
23. His curly hair.
24. How he keeps his tent meticulously clean.
25. He's so easy to please.
26. I love playing and singing with him.
27. His good deeds are secret. He doesn't display his acts of service or charity. Not even to me (though I catch him on occasion).
28. He's intelligent, pensive, thoughtful and imaginative (had to squeeze in some extras!)
29 He's fun.
30. The way he does everything when we're camping. I just sit and enjoy myself ;) He sets up, cooks, the whole bit-all while I enjoy nature. It's a pretty sweet deal for me.
31. How he can eat a cup of yogurt in about 3 bites.
32. How annoyed he gets when I use "a million" to be dramatic ("I've seen that movie a million times") He somehow thinks it's a little over the top (hee hee).
33. He's chosen to be mine :)

BIRTHDAY DINNER:

That is, if everything turns out. (Note: these are not actual photos of my food. These are merely prettied up representations stolen from websites of real chefs in order to make me look more epicurean). If anything turns out yummy, I'll post the recipes...

Pulled pork sandwiches with Horseradish coleslaw





Corn with lime-butter and cilantro




and Black Forest Birthday Cake