I started this post as a tribute to my sweet boy, but got caught up in preparing for his birthday/Oktoberfest party. So, this will end up being a combination of our party and a tribute! :)
We stayed up late (3 a.m.) on Friday night food shopping, decorating and doing some of the cooking. B brought home a bunch of Oktoberfest decorations from work and put those up while I made his birthday cake (Black Forest) and two of the side dishes - cucumber dill salad and krautsalat.
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| Rachael Ray's Krautsalat and Cucumber Dill Salad |
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| Kielbasa Apple Kebabs |
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| The Oktoberfest spread! |
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| Warm German Potato Salad |
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| Serious Wii golf competition |
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| Victory! |
I know there are a few other bloggers out there who have done this before, but I wanted to make a list of 35 things I love about Bryan for his birthday:
34. He makes family a priority. I knew early on when I saw Bryan's devotion to Nanny and Grammy that I would be in good hands.
33. He absolutely holds no record of wrongs. This may be because he can't remember anything, but it still makes me love him more. :)
32. He has a scale for how "horrible" or "fun" something is. For instance if I ask him to watch Private Practice with me, he'll say "No way. That show is 1,000 terrible!" Or, we'll be riding in the car and a song he loves will come on. He'll look over at me to smile and say, "This song is like 1,000,000 awesome."
31. He is very budget-conscious. Don't get me wrong, I can set up a budget. I just don't like to follow it. He makes sure that we follow the budget. :)
30. Keeping in line with #31, we often make decisions about where to eat out based on another one of B's "invented concepts" - Millionaire Food. For example, Wendy's and Taco Bell are completely acceptable but Chick-Fil-A is "Millionaire Food." Subway is okay, but Atlanta Bread Company is "Millionaire Food." As in, only millionaires can afford to eat there. All of this, of course, is subject to Bryan's discretion.
29. He never makes me mow the grass. :)
28. He cooks for me on Tuesday nights (his day off) and it is always yummy.
27. On the nights he doesn't cook, he almost always helps me do the dishes.
26. He even folds clothes!
25. Bryan makes me laugh every day.
24. He has taught me to love the Falcons and the Braves.
23. He always answers my questions about baseball patiently - even if I have asked the same question 2 or 3 times before.
22. I love the way he "yells" the answers during Jeopardy. He says that's the only way Alex will ever hear him!
21. As a "trade off" for the 100+ Braves games I watch every year, he watches Grey's Anatomy, Glee and Law and Order: SVU with me.
20. He doesn't "let me win" when we play Wii games. Victory feels better when you earn it!
19. He kills all the creepy-crawlies, even at 5:00 am.
18. He never, ever chases me with the dead creepy-crawlies.
17. He kicks ass at trivia. It's actually kind of disgusting how much random knowledge he has in his head.
16. He takes really good care of me when I'm sick.
15. He's never afraid to try something new. Even if it's crazy.
14. He has more hair than any man I know.
13. He is always calm when I am not.
12. His eyes disappear when he smiles. :)
11. He bought me a magic wand.
10. He cleans his own bathroom.
9. He tolerates a lot of "teacher talk" when my friends and I get together.
8. He helps me entertain 30+ 3rd graders every May at our house for our annual end-of-the-year party.
7. He may not be naturally "handy" but he is learning to do lots of things around the house - replacing the deadbolt and tiling the basement recently.
6. He also knows when something is more than he can handle. He knows when to call a professional. :)
5. He has loved me through some of the most difficult parts of my life.
4. He taught me to love Phish!
3. He has learned to love naps.
2. He always makes me feel appreciated and special.
1. He's mine! :)
24. He has taught me to love the Falcons and the Braves.
23. He always answers my questions about baseball patiently - even if I have asked the same question 2 or 3 times before.
22. I love the way he "yells" the answers during Jeopardy. He says that's the only way Alex will ever hear him!
21. As a "trade off" for the 100+ Braves games I watch every year, he watches Grey's Anatomy, Glee and Law and Order: SVU with me.
20. He doesn't "let me win" when we play Wii games. Victory feels better when you earn it!
19. He kills all the creepy-crawlies, even at 5:00 am.
18. He never, ever chases me with the dead creepy-crawlies.
17. He kicks ass at trivia. It's actually kind of disgusting how much random knowledge he has in his head.
16. He takes really good care of me when I'm sick.
15. He's never afraid to try something new. Even if it's crazy.
14. He has more hair than any man I know.
13. He is always calm when I am not.
12. His eyes disappear when he smiles. :)
11. He bought me a magic wand.
10. He cleans his own bathroom.
9. He tolerates a lot of "teacher talk" when my friends and I get together.
8. He helps me entertain 30+ 3rd graders every May at our house for our annual end-of-the-year party.
7. He may not be naturally "handy" but he is learning to do lots of things around the house - replacing the deadbolt and tiling the basement recently.
6. He also knows when something is more than he can handle. He knows when to call a professional. :)
5. He has loved me through some of the most difficult parts of my life.
4. He taught me to love Phish!
3. He has learned to love naps.
2. He always makes me feel appreciated and special.
1. He's mine! :)
