They say it's your birthday...

Today is a VERY special day in our house..it's our favorite guy's birthday!!

Chris has what I like to call "celebrity status" in our house...the kids are obsessed with him. When he comes home at night they run to the door and attack him...if he's sitting on the couch the kids are fighting over who gets to cuddle with him...

I know I've said it a million times before, but I will keep saying it...he works SO hard for our family...he works long hours and usually works from home for a few hours on the weekends. He never complains. EVER.

Chris is smart...like super smart. I could joke that's obvious because he married me, but the truth it's actually pretty amazing to watch the way his brain works...he's also super humble so I know he is HATING that I am writing that about him...ha! All I know is I hope our kids take after him in that department!! I'm a nice person and all, but school was never a huge success of mine!

He keeps us all laughing and reminds me to lighten up and not take things so seriously...I sometimes wish he didn't make me laugh so much because I want to be annoyed or mad about something, but it's impossible! He's the type of man who is friends with everyone he meets and can strike up a conversation with anyone.

He is the man I want my son to grow up to be like and I pray my girls find as a husband.

He just makes it all "easy" ya' know...this life together. I'm forever grateful I get to celebrate another year of him.

He's been in Mexico City for work this week so he's spending his entire birthday traveling back home to see us...3 hour drive to the airport in Mexico, 11.5 hour flight from Mexico to Amsterdam, 1.5 hour flight from Amsterdam to Stuggart and then a 2 hour drive home. Not a super fun way to spend the day so we'll be making up for it this weekend! Happy Birthday, Chris! You are so loved!!

The best gift...

I posted this picture the other day on Facebook of the kids...I'm pretty sure all of you saw it (because who else reads our blog expect our friends and family?!?)

I snapped the picture Sunday night when we were on a little walk...Allie had asked me to take their picture, I told them to put their arms around each other...this picture speaks volumes to me and has quickly become one of my favorites..the location, the way their bodies are positioned...all off it. Perfection.

I've said before that I won't really sure WHAT to expect when we began this adventure 10 months ago...I anticipated a lot of growing pains and sad days...and I was mostly worried about how I could best support each one of our kids as they navigated the waters (no pun intended) through their emotions...One thing I didn't expect was how much they would rely on each other.

They of course, don't realize they're doing it...there are still plenty of fights and short tempered comments to each other...but they are so much closer than I could have ever expected at such a young age...

They play together...not just exist side by side...they talk to each other and hang out and share secrets with each other when they think I'm not listening....they're learned to lean on each other and support each other...and it's been amazing to watch it all unfold.

I didn't expect to see their relationship grow like it has...I guess I underestimated them and their emotional capabilities...I thought they would think only how this move effected them, but they've thought of each other the entire time. Shows what I know.