Happy Birthday Brook!

I can't help but smile a little when I look at this picture of Brook at two years old. I just want to pinch his chubby cheeks and squeeze his fat little legs. What is it about 2-year-olds that I just love? I can't decide if he's smiling because he's happy or smiling because he's getting ready to do something sneaky. Hmmmmm. Probably the latter.

How I love this guy.

We just celebrated his birthday in an uneventful, sadly planned way. He always does such a great job of making us feel special on our birthdays by making cakes and buying gifts. This year his birthday kind of crept up on us (me) and we (I) didn't get anything planned. We ended up squeezing a family dinner in before a football game he had to coach. I guess WE'RE not injured, just Zach. Brook still gets to coach while his favorite player stands on the sideline. Not much fun, but what can you do.?

We are each so grateful for Brook. There are many, many reasons we're thankful for him, but we'll try to just highlight a few. He is such a great dad and husband and manages to keep our family going. He supports each of us in our activities and obligations and works harder than anyone else in our home, yet never complains. We love his goofiness and easy going attitude. We love his hip-hop moves. We love his work ethic and "can-do" attitude. Caitlyn loves his sense-of-humor (and she's "not just saying that. I really do"). She also loves the way he lets her stay out later (unlike her other parent) and tells her to "have fun" without "asking a ton of questions". Brynn loves Brook because he makes breakfast for her every morning and calls her lots of nicknames like Bennett, B, Beatrice, Beans, Yuletide, and oh the list goes on and on. Zach loves Brook because "he's fun". He enjoys spending time with him golfing or 4-wheeling or playing sports or just watching tv together. I love him for all the above AND MORE. I love him because he helps me be a better person. I adore him because he'll call me or text me in the day just to tell me he loves me. I enjoy going for evening walks with him or just stealing away from the house and grabbing a Costa Vida salad together. I couldn't imagine life without him. I just love him. Happy Birthday Brook! Next year I promise we'll (I'll) do better :)