Happy, happy birthday Jared dear...

Poor Jared with his December birthday. I feel bad every year that we squeeze it in quickly amidst all the holiday celebrations.

The night before his birthday, Jared let the dogs out front to go to the bathroom like we have done EVERY. single. night for the past 9 years! And Porter took off and never came back. If any of you know Jared, you know that it was like losing a child for him. All night long we searched in ditches, yards, drove around the neighborhood. We woke up every hour and checked on the porch hoping he made it back. When Jared woke up on his birthday, we both were pretty heartbroken and figured he was gone. Jared was getting ready to go look for him again when I hear him say, "There's Porter!" Apparently our neighbor two houses down found him and brought him inside for the night. She had taken him running at the park off leash and he was just following her right back to her house without even looking at our house. So much for loyalties! Jared started calling to him after he ran past and he couldn't decide if he wanted to come home with us or with our neighbor. He must have gotten pretty spoiled over there...

So luckily his day turned out well! The kids & I made him a candy poster along with his gifts. Jared & I had a wonderful date with sushi at Sonoda's downtown and wandering the Tattered Cover. That was our first ALONE date for months. I finally got that sweet baby boy to take a bottle!

We just loved to be able to talk without interruptions, hold hands and really enjoy our time together. When we got home we sang "Happy Birthday" and had cake with the kids. Grey was pretty upset when I told him Jared wasn't having a birthday party, so we had to make sure to celebrate a little with the kids.

Happy Birthday Lover...