3 is my favorite number, so I'll love him double this year

I failed to report on something very important last week. My Scott turned 33. For his birthday celebration itself, we kept it low-key. The kids all wanted to get him their own gifts (with their own money, even!), so we went shopping and their very own ideas were a football, some candy, and lots of gum. We made him an extra good dinner and some cheesecake too.

33 reasons I love him:

1. He's hot. Duh.

2. He knows and remembers what's important to me.

3. He's athletic (I like that). Most of our married life he's played on some sort of intramural or city sports league team. Basketball, soccer, flag football, ultimate frisbee, and mostly softball. I love to watch him play. I love for our kids to see how awesome he is. My favorite part of watching him in any game is the first time the opposing team sees him run at an all out sprint. (Because he's FAST.) I eat up all of their comments of disbelief and hanging open mouths at his unmatched speed.

4. He's funny. He make-a me laugh every day.

5. He is generous. I often feel a struggle with my inner selfish, self but not Scott. He doesn't think twice, he just likes to give and help and serve.

6. He coaches our kids' sports teams too. He's that super-involved dad.

7. He can connect with the kids on some super-exclusive wrestling-level that I will never be able to.

8. He can do this.

9. And this.

10. He's got a good attitude. And a reputation for smiling all the time.

11. His testimony. If this list were in order of importance this would be #1. He is constantly setting the standard for me.

12. He doesn't mind rubbing my feet, even if they may or may not be a little stinky.

13. He changes diapers.

14. He's tough. Especially when it comes to being sick. Throwing up is no big deal to him. Puke, rinse, carry on.

15. At the beginning of the summer he took over grocery shopping for me because I was pregnant and still nauseous and just couldn't take all four kids along with me (the drama). School started up again and I wasn't sick anymore and he still did (and continues to do) all of the grocery shopping.

16. He's tolerant.

17. He always scoops my ice cream. And he's not stingy on the scoops.

18. He is the most amazing story-teller I have ever heard. He has a gift, a true gift for captivating a young audience. Toddlers through preteens, he can keep them all riveted with the same finely-crafted tale.

19. He is smart. Book smart and intuitive smart.

20. He takes each of the kids out on a regular basis individually to do something fun and mostly to have a chance to talk one-on-one with them all.

21. He loves me.

22. He likes (tolerates?) my love of rocking out together in the car to a really good song.

23. When Lydia was born he started making a hot breakfast for the older three kids every day (while I had just been feeding them frozen eggos and strudels).

24. He usually prepares the roast (and he's good at it...very tasty).

25. He taught me to drive a stick-shift (with all the patience of a courting beau).

26. He is a hard worker. Whether it's his job, projects around the house, service, his callings, anything...he is dedicated to it through and through from start to finish. He is the polar opposite of lazy. He doesn't mind getting dirty, sweaty, or whatever it takes, he gets it done right.

27. Along with that work ethic, he's always been able to support our family. Even when we were newlyweds in college, he got a job on the assembly line at a pill-packaging facility until he could find a better one. Not having a job was not an option.

28. He is strong.

29. He writes me love notes.

30. He is nothing but supportive of me...my interests, my priorities, my feelings; he makes them his own.

31. Did I mention perfection? Seriously folks...

32. He is everybody's friend.

33. He's humble. He's not really going to like this post...no, not at all.