Happy 40th Birthday Lee!

I am not going to write 40 wonderful things about my husband, because I still have to bake his cake, and it would take me all day. But I am going to share why I love him so much. I promise, this won't be too sappy.
You married me despite the fact that I couldn't cook, bake, sew, or do crafts. I introduced you to your first frozen entree our first week of marriage, and you ate it.

When you come home from work, you say "Hello", take a shower, eat dinner, and then relax, sometimes falling asleep.

You are a good Dad to our boys. You include them in almost everything you do. You teach them right from wrong, how to ride a motorcycle (and make them love it), how to play X-Box (is that really a good thing), how to work and the importance of having a work ethic, how to be prepared, and a bunch of other stuff that is important too. When Mason was born and in the hospital, it was the worst time of our lives. You were strong enough for both of us. When I was falling apart at the seams or going crazy in the head, you managed to calm me down and reason with the crazy woman you were married too. Even though I was mad at you when you took me home for the first time, 8 days after Mason was born, and I left kicking & screaming-crying non stop all the way home....You were right about telling me it was time for me to come home and distance myself a little. You don't like going to hospitals, but you managed to put your feelings aside to be with our baby boy.

You like to go fast, on your motorcycle. You like tight corners. You like to take the backroads. And I'm so glad you don't own the blasted thing above anymore. But you still have your other 2 machines in your garage.

You can design something on a piece of paper, have someone else do the engineering, and then build & construct it. You can do anything and everything. You work very, very, very, hard for our family. I am grateful I am able to be a stay-at-home Mom for our boys, and you make it all possible.

We think alike. I can't read your mind (like you think I should), but when we have an idea for something, we always manage to think the same things, come to compromises, and meet in the middle. You have strong opinions about all things pertaining to our home-like wall paint colors, furniture, and appliances. Why can't you just say "Yes, Dear" and just agree?

You often times do things that you don't want to do, but do them anyways because I asked you nicely (not nagged). You do listen to me when I don't think you are.

You love James Bond. When you were at Border Patrol Academy, you were once told "Mr. Bryant, your reputation has preceeded you". It wasn't a good thing at the time, and I won't disclose the reasons why. But, this was something that you always wanted to hear. However, when I asked you who you would rather be....James Bond or Jack Bauer-you said, Jack Bauer.

You also like Chicken Divan, Pumpkin Pie, & Korean Food. You are a "Gadget" guy and manage to talk yourself into or reason yourself into buying these said gadgets. Your favorite gadget-your GPS/Navagation system-that speaks several different languages-in a female voice (which you have names for all of them), that won't yell at you when you take a wrong turn.

I am grateful you are my husband, and the father of our boys. Happy 40th Birthday! Now I have to go and bake your cake.

Happy 7th Birthday Mason! 7 Things We Love About You.

1. I love how you like to "tinker" in the garage and "help" your Dad out when he is outside. Even if it's out in the rain, in your socks.

2. I love how you constantly ask "Where's Mackie" when he is gone on a camp out or overnight somewhere. You two fight alot, but I know you two also love each other.

3. I love how you are "with one with the dirt" when you are outside. Yes, it drives me nuts when I see you literally laying face down on the ground when you are playing. But this is something you love doing-so I let it happen. Unless you are in your church clothes.

4. You love school...and I am so glad! You have one of the best kindergarten teachers in the school district. You go to school everyday on 1/2 days, which is a perfect fit for you. I am so grateful you are smart, bright, and inqusitive. And yes, I cried a little bit after I dropped you off on your first day of school.

5. I love it when you are sleeping. You have always looked like an angel, from the time you were a baby. I love that you are a heavy sleeper, so I can go in your room and kiss you-without you "wiping" off my kisses. Dad loves it when you come into bed with us at 2:00 in the morning every once in a while when you have a bad dream. Just as long as you tuck your little feet under you Dad's back and not mine.

6. You love being at home. When you come home from school, you just want to be home-and not go out anywhere...except the library.

7. I love how you talk. You often times mispronounce words, and have a lisp that makes my heart melt. When you were at Childrens, when you were a tiny baby- the nurses often told me "looking in his eyes, he looks like he has so much to say". You have alot to say, all the time. You let me know what makes you happy, mad, sad, and you giggle when you are really excited about something.

Sorry this post is 2 days late. It took me a few days to gather my thoughts, and not get too emotional. You had such a rough start when you were born. I have been recently been sorting through our family pictures, and when I come across a baby pictures of you-it makes me happy that you have overcome so much. You are now a normal kid, who happens to have a medical chart at Childrens Hospital that is more than 5 inches thick. Looking at you, no one would ever know. You have taught me to have patience and that anything is possible. I am so proud of you!
Happy Birthday Mason!

Happy 13th Birthday Mac! 13 Things We Love About You.

1. You would rather spend time with your Dad and Family than do something with your friends.
2. You Love Football, and begged your Mom to play for 3 years before she said yes.
3. You are compassionate. When you were 9, you thought that someone should turn an old building you saw into a place for homeless people to go.

4. You work hard. You have Dyslexia like your Mom, and worked really hard on improving your reading skills to keep up with your classmates. You also work hard when you work with your Dad.
5. You are patient. Refer to #1 for an example.
6. You make friends easily and are a sociable kid.

7. When you were 5 years old, we went to a fancy restaurant and said "I think I will have shrimp for dinner". You still like shrimp, and steak, and pizza.

8. You are polite and you have manners-apparently you do use your manners out in public, and for that I am grateful.

9. You are flexible, easy going, and are willing to "go with the flow" of life.

10. You easily accept change. We have moved around alot, and you never complained.

11. You LOVE Science and like to watch things blow up. You like to watch Mythbusters to see how things work, and to watch things blow up.

12. You are a very good big brother. When you were 6 and Mason was a baby, I needed to take a shower, and put him in the swing for you to "watch him". You were watching cartoons, and felt Mason needed to watch them too. You moved his swing into the same direction as the T.V. and did this successfully, without getting his oxygen tube caught under the swing and kept his feeding machine upright. I was shocked when I got out of the shower- 10 minutes later.

13. You are an all around good kid. When you go on Scouting trips, or stay at friends houses, I am always told what a good kid you are, and never cause problems.

We are proud of you Mac! I can't believe you are a Teenager, and am shocked that you are 13. Where did the time go? It doesn't seem like 13 years, but I guess it is. Happy Birthday!!