Mike turns 30!

The kids were just as excited to be with Mike for his birthday as they were to be all together for Christmas. They love decorations, wrapping presents, making cakes and of course singing Happy Birthday!

Of course Mike was at work for about 12 hours on his birthday but we squeezed in the birthday fun! Then, we went out to dinner at his favorite pizza place.

Since Mike was still 18 when we met 30 makes me feel like we've been together for a really long time. At the same time I can't believe how fast time has gone- it really does fly by when you're having fun!

Mike is such a wonderful father and my very best friend and I'm so glad we could be there to celebrate him! He's had a really hard job this year and has been away from home a ton but has somehow managed to keep his place as the center of the universe for his two little kiddies. We've lived and been around enough military families now for me to know there are some real slimeballs out there. Guys who look more forward to a cold beer when they pull into port than a hug from their kids. Or, people who live by the mantra "what happens on deployment stays on deployment." I was reminded in such sweet ways what a good man he is while we visited. It's a million tiny little things that add up to him being fabulous and me being the luckiest girl alive. We had some fun in Italy but the best thing that happened was the kids giving Mike a big hug when he walked in from work and exclaiming how much they loved Italy....because it's where we we were all together.

The kids made pictures and we decorated the door to his hotel room and I failed to take a picture of it. But, he loved it and so did everyone else on the floor. They hid and turned the lights off and yelled surprise when he walked in and they couldn't wait for him to open up the ties they got him. Emma has good tie taste too 'cause he loved both of them!

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!