I don't know what it is, but it's pretty much to die for.  It has yet to grow old to any of us.  And he seriously does it all the time.

Oh, that wasn't it.  Rooster was just getting warmed up.  Here you go . . .

This guy is the greatest Dad.  Hands down.   My favorite thing about him as a father is how easily I can see his love for his boys.  There is no doubt that he is wild about them, and they are just crazy about him.  These little boys are so blessed to have him as their Daddy.  And I love watching Erik at his best: being a Dad. 

We love you mucho!  Happy happy Fathers' Day!!

This very well may be the longest I’ve ever been away from my bloggity blog.  13 days.  Wowza.  I have a bajillion things to catch up on and post, including the homecoming of Elder Whitby and Sam’s 4th birthday!  Yikes.  I’ve got to get moving.  But in the meantime, enjoy the cuteness of these two little boys, who couldn’t possibly eat their apples and watch Curious George any other place than smushed up right next to each other on the huge sectional.

These two little guys are bonkers for their daddy . . . with or without a bowl of salsa on his belly.

Erik gets to sleep in until I holler up the stairs and then dump the boys on him.  But nobody seems to mind.  Love love love these guys.

A few days ago, Owen had a really late nap and Samuel did not nap.  That meant Sam went to bed at 7:30 and Owen was up till almost 9, playing only child with his Mummy and Daddio.  He was being so funny and so goofy.  Owen can get silly sometimes, and he is very pleasant and smiley, but he doesn’t usually get crazy.  It was a lot of fun to get some special time with our Bubs.

6 of my favorite things (and one for good luck) about my favorite man after 6 years . . . .

1} Erik thinks I’m funny.  I’ve never actually gotten him to say that.  A few times, when I made him laugh really hard, I managed to get him to admit that, “Yeah what you just said was pretty funny.”  But I know that he is just afraid to admit that someone (me) might be funnier than him, and really he thinks I’m freakin’ hilarious.  Erik is funny, too.  I love that we have the same sense of humor.  And I love laughing together.  Definitely one of my favorite things.

2} I get to be myself around Erik.  I remember dating guys and being very concerned about the thought of marriage, because I pick my toe nails and I could never ever ever pick my toe nails in front of them.  Never have I had to worry about picking my toes in front of Erik.  I can do that, and almost anything else gross, silly, crazy, obnoxious without much more than a smirk and an eye roll, which I always interpret to mean, “She is so cute, that little Annelise of mine, and I love each one of her adorable quirks, particularly the toe picking.” 

3} Erik makes me a better person.   Maybe I could’ve married someone who I kept wrapped around my finger and gave me every little thing I wanted and caved to all of my whims with a “Yes, my beautiful goddess of love.”  I might have liked that sometimes, but it never would have made me grow or learn or face my weaknesses, and certainly not reach my eternal potential.  Erik is brutally honest and upfront, and sometimes it makes me want to cry.  But I am grateful for a husband who sees and knows the best in me.

4} All I have to do is ask and Erik will answer the call.  Be it emptying the dishwasher or coming home from work because I’m losing it, if I ask, Erik does.  He’s even starting to get good about me NOT asking.  Like the other morning when I woke up at 6 to finish laundry before the boys got up, and I found the loads moved ahead AND all of my unshrinkables hung out to dry. 

5} Erik is an amazing father.  His two boys adore him and there is no doubt that Erik adores them.  He loves to play with them, be silly with them, and teach them.  He gets really excited about sharing things with them that he loved when he was a kid and things that are important to him now.  When I tell him stories from our day, I love the smiles Erik gets.  It’s just so obvious how much he loves his boys and how great he thinks they are. 

6} Erik has a really tight butt and super nice legs.  I was reminded of how much I like them last week each time I watched him pull someone back onto the boat.  Yum.

7} When Erik holds my hand it makes me all giddy inside.  Still.  Every single time. 

Love my almond painted walls.  Love my new thick carpet.  And I can think of two more things I love.