Happy Birthday, Rob!

Is this where I put the eggs?

pouring in the water and oil

mixing the batter (me, praying the whisk stays inside the bowl!)

trying to put the cracked shell back together

crunching up the egg shells was the messiest fun!

Today is Rob's 29th birthday! This rainy, cool morning (quite a change from the weekend's beautiful weather), Ella and I decided to make Rob a birthday brownie cake. I cheated and used a boxed mix, but that's much easier when baking with a toddler...the less steps, the better. Ella had fun mixing and decorating the cake (as well as playing with the cracked egg shells). Later we'll work on making him a card (more fun with markers and a toddler)!

Tonight Rob's mom (Nana) is coming to watch Ella so I can take Rob out for dinner. We are going to Bonefish Grill (one of Rob's favorites to get his fill of seafood since I think I make fish at home about once a year). We'll have time before our dinner reservations and afterward to do something together. I am not sure what we'll do, but probably just something relaxing like sitting, talking, and having tea (r) or coffee (j). It will be nice to spend some time together with just Rob without being rushed to get through dinner. He really is a funny guy. I was reminded of this yesterday when we were sitting in the car eating our Wawa hoagies (the plan was to go to the playground, but Ella feel asleep on the way there, so we sat in the playground parking lot and ate lunch while she finished her catnap). We also got to hang out later in the afternoon when Ella took her real nap at home. We sat on the porch and talked/read. Rob said some really funny things that had us both laughing and enjoying each other's company. He laughed those really hardy belly laughs and his face got red and his eyes teared up. It reminded me of how much fun we have together when we can relax and forget about the chores that need to be done, the schedules that have to be exchanged, and the numerous tasks that go along with being parents. We need to make it a point to make more of these times, to forget about old grudges, annoyances, and negativities, and have some fun together like when we were dating.

So in that spirit, here are just a few things that I love about Rob:

*he is so thoughtful--he holds doors for strangers, gives his food to homeless people, takes his aging grandmother for dessert after a long day at work, brings Ella and me flowers for no special reason....

*he is handsome and cute, all in one--he is so handsome when he dresses up for work or in a suit, yet so cute when is sleeping in his racecar shorts or has spikey wet hair

*he is funny--he has a quirky, weird (in a good way) sense of humor

*he has a great memory--he can remember things that I said when we first met, what my favorite things are, and I can tell he really listens to what I say

*he is a great dad--Ella is so lucky to have Rob as her dad. He is very attentive to her, shows her a lot of affection, is silly and fun with her, and spends almost all of his free time with her (taking her to the playground, showing her how to use tools, and bouncing on the bed and sofa).

*he is a hard worker--he gives 100% in everything he does (doing chores around the house, designing buildings at work, helping other people out)

Have a happy birthday, Rob--you deserve it!