My Mr.

I love the way he looks at me, with smiling eyes.  How he makes silly faces when I insist on taking photos of us together.  How he really enjoys my company, after almost 10 years of this togetherness we share.  How he overlooks the pile of (clean) clothes, once housed on the couch then dumped on the living room floor, and goes looking for socks in the mountain high pile instead of putting up a fuss.  How he contributes to the enormity of this pile of clothes by washing/drying and dumping, never folding.  Ever.  How he points out daily, "check out the nice mow job on the yard" even after 2 weeks have lapsed since he mowed the lawn.  Dude loves positive affirmation.  I snuggle in bed with a smile as he turns on the fan in the bedroom, shuts the bedroom door, and does early morning duty with the kids so I can have more sleep.  And then when he is doing morning duty, how he does it as a present father.  Paying specific detail to them, their needs, their features.  "Yes R that is a sweet tower you build for the pigs to knock them down with the angry birds, and yes J you look fancy with your brother's yellow Crocs on, and K let me help you put back your undies and pants on - good job for peeing in the toilet!"  Without a struggle, mostly.  I love that he wrestle with our girl, snuggles/hugs/and kisses our boys - no gender discrimination whatsoever.  I love that he changes his dietary habits on a regular basis - "I'm not eating meat," but then goes on to eat a chicken burrito from Taco Bell.  Because apparently "taco bell chicken burritos isn't even real meat."  I love that dates can happen in the McDonalds playplace.  Him, me, and some sausage McMuffins while our littles play in the play structure.  Aside from R's announcement every few seconds of "I'm COMING DOWN THE SLIDE" and then J's "I having fun" it is like we are there alone.  Just us.  Except we aren't and I like that.  I like the transition we've made in life together, and supported each other along the way.  How no matter how many times I told him I hate grad school, and want to quit - how he just says "do what you want, but have no regrets about your decision."

He stays up late to work, spends as minimal time in the office as possible, gets up early to be the family guy, and soaks up every precious second of time that I can spare to spend quality time together - as P and K.

He is exceptional at life.  Seriously.

I strive to be like him.

Because he is great.