A Princess, A Pipe, and a Hot Dog

I attempted to convince Lauren that Batman, or a T-Rex are excellent ideas for costumes. However, the girls wouldn't hear of it.  Princess or bust.

This is a pipe we found at the park.  I don't fit as well as I did 20 years ago.

No need to roll up her sleeves or move cautiously when gutting a pumpkin.  This stuff is better than Play-Dough.  Personally, I have no desire to gut a pumpkin.  Call it what you want, it's sick and wrong.

I have wished to be an Oscar Meyer Weiner all my life.  This year, I made it so.

  Although I do not have the magic for words Mark does I'm going to attempt to let you in on a few of the little- known things I love about Mark.

*  He hates squash or anything resembling the squash texture for that matter.  He believes squash was the pernicious evil Adam and Even tripped over on their way out of the Garden of Eden.

* He loves to learn. A couple of weeks ago at 2 a.m. I found him entranced as he was researching black holes.

* Mark hates to get his hands dirty.  The pumpkins would be left ungutted if left to him.   Fortunately, Rylee loves it.

*  A cool new mechanical pen or pencil gets Mark ready and willing to jump in and go to work when something is hard.  (He bought 4 last week)

*  He hates talking on the phone.  Nothing personal to anyone.  It's just the phone thing.  I'm convinced the Lord has a sense of humor for calling Mark to one of the most phone-talking callings.

* Mark loves to play electric guitar.  Sometimes, while we're holding hands or his hand is on my back - his fingers will subconsciously begin to strum through guitar chords.   

*  Along with the guitar, Mark loves almost any music from Pachabel's Canon to Metallica.  He has a talent and love for creating his own music.  He can bring the music he hears in his head out through his guitar.  He thought everyone could do this until we tried a piano/guitar duet. He became shocked and frustrated that I couldn't hear or get out through the piano the music in my head let alone the song he had hoped I'd hear in his head.

* He can fix anything.  Our four-poster bed no longer squeaks thanks to his duck tape in the right places.  Thanks Paula for all the blow-dryers and toasters you let him take apart growing up.

* He loves his older sister and 3 younger brothers and wishes the distances weren't so far.

* He loves spontaneity,  he shows me how to enjoy the journey rather than always trying to just get things done.  

*  He loves soccer.  Yesterday, I said something about soccer in the the living room and his comment was, 'wait, this is my house your talking about, soccer will be played'.   (It's a good thing I know a good fix-it man.)

*  Mark can be the best 'girly boy' as he plays endlessly with his girls.  He is a fantastic dad, if good times are being had, Mark's around.

You're my favorite part, buddy!  Sure love you, Mark.