Happy birthday Dave!

"Let me show you how not to eat a cupcake, kids."

He really liked his shirts...

Teresa wove and sewed a glasses case for Dave- all by herself!

Post-cupcake happy dance.

We had a birthday feast followed by yummy cupcakes (both recipes tweaked a little). It's hard to put to words how much we love and cherish Dave as husband and dad. He is our daily joy; we all look forward to his coming home. He infuses creative, fun energy into my literal-minded world, whether by setting all the clocks back an hour (to fool everyone into going to bed an hour early), playing "smile and scare" (a game dubbed by David Jr.- basically Dave hides in a dark place, the kids find him, scream and he chases them around the house), or concocting a delicious meal (Coq Au Vin being the latest).  And to brag on him a little, he's also very civic-minded, being a member of YLF's board, chairing various committees at our school and parish, and leading a father's ministry called the St. Joseph's Group. Recently he was asked to be on Bishop Loverde's pastoral council- a testament to his hard work. He balances all this with aplomb. We love you!

In honor of his birthday, some appropriate entertainment: Jim Gaffigan's 4 Kids.

(incidentally, I got him Dad Is Fat for his birthday- not as a passive-aggressive hint, but because it's hilarious)