the big five six

 He turned 56 today.

The kids baked him a cake while I was working and they frosted it and decorated it, and it was pretty delicious.

 We had this all backward, eating cake before opening presents!  Who's in charge of the order here?

Apparently no one. But it was fine.

 He growled menacingly and tore open the paper with his teeth.

 Showing off his new underwear, which the kids speculated was it scratch n' sniff underwear.

Hopefully not.

 Here he's using his ESPN to guess what's in that gift on top of his head.

Yes, we all know it's ESP.  He calls it ESPN anyway.

 He guessed, "Peanuts!"  It was mixed nuts.  We gave him the points.

 This child requested a sleepover earlier in the afternoon, so excited about Grandpa's birthday she wanted to be here for this spectacular occasion of him opening his gifts and having cake.

 We are always glad to have her or any other grandchild, absolutely.  When I texted her mom and told her the request, she said yes. ("How could I ever say no to that??")  

The child jumped for joy and ran and put her pajamas on in the middle of the afternoon.

Jay?

You?

 Always, my best boyfriend ever.

 Not that we don't drive each other insane sometimes, frustrated and annoyed.

We definitely do.

 But one of the things I admire and love most about you is something I didn't even appreciate until we were in our 40s, like we are in this lake picture.

 As much as you may bitch or be accused of negativity and so forth, you tell it how it is with you. I don't have to wonder, or guess, or fill in the blanks, or imagine all the things you're not telling me.

Oh, hell no.

You've probably already told me three times more than I want to hear.

This is a good thing.

Here's a classic from your 40th.

 I always liked you in that shirt.

And this beautiful old picture from Green Lake, John pushing the boat out or dragging it in, who knows?  Probably in. It looks like the evening is ending.

As it did today, Julia commenting on the beautiful night sky.

Happy Birthday, my dearly loved friend.

Thanks for being mine, for being ours, for being devoted and kind to our kids, and all the dogs, the turtle, the guinea pigs we've had, the geckos, both our families, your customers and mine, and also me.

Thanks for the ranting and hollering that's real and true, also.

We are all lucky having you.

Happy Birthday, Darling.  love, Val and Everybody