Happy Birthday, Brett!

Today is Brett's birthday. His 41st birthday, to be exact.

For the past four years, I admit, his birthday has been overshadowed by Zach and Allie's big day, which is in just two days. The family parties have been all about Elmo and Sleeping Beauty. The gifts have been about dolls and cars. Slipped in on a weekday evening, Brett would have his cake and receive his gifts, as my mind would always quickly turn to balloons and pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey for the upcoming toddler bash.

Before the twins came along (and when we were living in Sacramento with grandparents handy to watch the kids), we frequently celebrated birthdays and anniversaries with weekend trips to Lake Tahoe, San Francisco or Napa. Or at least a nice dinner downtown.

This past Saturday we ventured to Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville in Glendale to celebrate Brett's 41st. Amy and Cory and their girls joined us. It was a lot of fun, but Brett just wasn't feeling well. Bummer.

So, Brett, today I want you to know that even though there's no weekend getaway this time around, we all (me and the kids) wish you a Happy Birthday. For all the gestures that might not always be immediately acknowledged -- making coffee everyday, giving the twins their baths, making pool time fun for the kids, running out and getting us ice cream on a whim, always being there to help with the chauffeuring of the kids, still calling me from work every day to see how I'm doing, getting up with a sleepwalking child, watching T.V with me later than you'd like -- now seems a good time to say "thank you."

Happy Birthday!