My Pisceans

This time of year always gets me thinking about the special men in my life. First there's Valentine's Day, then the anniversary of the day that Ben and I first started dating...heck, two of my four dearest dudes celebrate birthdays this very week! (And the other two love any excuse to dig into cake and help someone else open their presents, so it's really a winning week for all.)

We did a bit of celebrating for Ben this past weekend - a birthday lunch, date night, some little presents (each announced by a certain someone before they could be opened), a cake (also announced with "Daddy, it's a secret but we have to go get your cake ready!"), some adorable homemade cards from some adoring sons, and a birthday masterpiece on our kitchen doors:

I did the writing (obviously), but if you can make out the birthday cake - that was all Ethan. The boys sure do get into birthdays, and Ethan got a chuckle out of the fact that Mommy is in fact older than Daddy, even though Daddy is taller. We'll do some more celebrating this coming weekend over in Bridgton, where Ben will take home the Four-Square World Champion title once and for all.

My dad's birthday is Friday, and we won't get to celebrate with him in person on his actual birthday. Dad, maybe you should just move up here (ahem) and we'll throw you a proper birthday party. I can promise it will include a loud and off-key rendition of "Happy Birthday", lots of help opening your presents, and probably an extra-early wake-up call to wish you a Happy Birthday. Oh, and you'll have to make your own birthday breakfast because god forbid you starve your grandsons of Papi's famous eggs.

Happiest Birthday to my daddy and my babies' daddy. One of these years I'll get my act together and actually give you each your own well-deserved post. In the meantime, I love you both so very much. You are each such stunning examples of perfection in the arts of husbandry and fatherhood. Thank you for your enviable amounts of patience, your constant support of me and my crazy ideas/wants/needs, and your unending love.

Working on six-pack abs for our Jamaica trip. Sorry Ben, I had to.

An oldie, but one of my favorite pictures of my dad and me.