36

Runny noses are red,
And baby poop is yellow
I can't imagine parenting
With a more handsome fellow.

His 36th year will be one for the books.
Between our family and work, there won't be much rest.
But we can slow down for a minute today
To celebrate Aaron because he's the best!

Bday plans include: fixing his truck
Grilling up burger, and with any luck
A fresh apple crisp is what he would like,
Then to ride a few miles on his new exercise bike.

So we'll sing and we'll eat
And it will be rad
To blow out the candles
For our most favorite dad! <3 p="">

Aaron building a dog house for Nike.

Aaron in his handsome new suit.

Aaron winning a contract for his company while at an army base in Ohio.

Things have been whirlwind crazy around here. I've been sick. Kids have been sick. Ozzy still gets up multiple times at night wanting to eat. We are scraping the bottom of the tank of survival mode around here for sure. Trying to gear up for Thanksgiving, trying to gear up for the holidays and all the hustle and bustle that comes with them. Trying to get our house organized, trying to make sure all the kids have sufficient winter clothing. Etc, etc, etc. Aaron was in Ohio for a few days last week on a business trip. I was out of town with my mom the weekend before that. Time is zipping past us as smacking us int he face as it goes. And it feels like we can't catch our breath. I forget how hard the first year is after having a baby. How it really does take an ENTIRE year to regroup.

BUT

Today is Aaron's birthday. And we had to fit it in, because Aaron is the tracks to our crazy train. He's keeping this whole thing from derailing. He is steady, and constant, and even. And if it weren't for him, this circus would have fallen apart a long time ago. So celebrate we did. Sort of.

All Aaron wanted for his birthday was to go to his dad's house and work on getting the 4-wheel drive shaft fixed in his truck. So he was gone for probably 2/3rds of the day. The rest of us cleaned the house to surprise him when he got home. We didn't have any other presents for him because we had already given him the exercise bike he wanted off of KSL. We found it last week, and it was too heavy for me to pick up without him and his truck, so I stayed with the kids and Aaron and Kelly went to get it instead. I didn't wrap it either, probably should have.

Anyways, Aaron wanted hamburgers for dinner and apple crisp for dessert. We got a pretty late start on both, and dessert almost ended up not happening, because it was late, everyone was tired, and I kept being interrupted in preparations because Ozzy wanted to eat. But we did it. I hope Aaron knows how much we love him. And how much we appreciate him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AARON!!!!