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36 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT BEN

(Happy 36th birthday, Ben Hedenberg!)

1. He makes me laugh. Really, really laugh. Sometimes his jokes are corny, sometimes they are dry and sarcastic, sometimes they are just strange, but I can always count on him for a laugh. He laughs often and keeps life light-hearted around here.

2. He challenges me to be a better person without making me feel criticized.

3. He is supportive of me and is my biggest cheerleader, no matter what the situation. If I told him I was thinking of giving tight-rope walking a try, I have no doubt he would say something like, "Cool! You have good balance, so you would be good at it. Where can you take lessons?"

4. When he comes home from work, he wants to hear all about my day. It can't really be as interesting as he pretends that it is. Sometimes after I have talked for ten minutes straight about something completely normal like a trip to the library with the kids and then ask him about his day, I will find out that he did something as impressive as giving a presentation to 200 people.

5. He is quick with a hug and a kiss. He also is great about not getting offended if I have had one of those days where it feels like I've had children climbing/hanging off of me all day and just need a little space.

6.  Life is more fun when he is around. There is a noticeable difference in the atmosphere of the house when he is out of town for work.

7. He cooks a great meal for us each Sunday and makes enough that there are leftovers to enjoy during the week.

8. He is enthusiastic and skilled when it comes to projects around the house. He never seems to mind hearing about my latest idea and is usually ready to jump right in and give it a try.

9. He is pretty easy-going when it comes to weekend plans; he always says he just wants to spend some time with us. He turns down invitations from friends to get together on the weekend if he feels he hasn't seen enough of us during the week.

10. He is outgoing enough in social situations that I don't have to be. Another reason we are a good match.

11. When we were house-hunting, our realtor told us on the second day that after she had spent the first day with us, her grown daughter asked how we were. Our realtor told us she answered with, "It was nice to spend a day with a couple that gets along well. He is just really nice to her."

12. He introduces me to new music.

13. He has a good sense of direction and likes to drive, so I usually get to just sit in the passenger seat and enjoy the drive.

14. He loses his mind when Illinois wins a close game. He really loses his mind when they are playing badly. It is highly entertaining.

15.  We have some great conversations while drinking wine and playing Dr. Mario.

16. He is fun to travel with. Some of my favorite memories in life are from getaways with Ben.

17. He is held in high regards at work.  I feel proud to watch him in a professional setting.

18. He has a freakishly good memory.

19. He rubs my back as we fall asleep each night.

20. He is extremely confident. He usually approaches any problem as something he can fix. Somehow, strangely, he doesn't come across as arrogant to me.

21.  He frequently calls or texts as he leaves work to see if I need him to stop at the store to get anything. Anyone with young kids understands how thoughtful this is.

22. He wears fake nerd glasses and talks in "Serious Dad" voice to make the kids laugh.

23. He is hopeless when it comes to song lyrics, but doesn't seem to realize that he is. It is so funny.

24. He appreciates my thriftiness, but also encourages me to splurge on myself sometimes. He is great about encouraging me to pick out a new dress if we have fun plans, sweet about picking up a new book or gadget that he thinks I would enjoy, and wonderful to prompt me to get something that I like if we are out shopping together. He never makes me feel as if his paycheck isn't our paycheck.

25. He makes Gracie giggle to the point of hiccups and has for the past nine years straight.

26.  He ends every phone call and email to me with "I love you."

27. I tease him because he is incapable of going to the store without picking up some fun extra things- whatever he runs across and feels like we need.  He has come home with sleds on a sunny day, a giant gingerbread man cookie pan after a run to Walmart for milk, and a bottle of wine and a Redbox while running out for diapers.

28. He is a good sport about my picture taking and has begun to take lots of pictures himself. I love when I dump the pictures off of the camera and find a bunch of pictures that I didn't even know he had taken.

28. He likes to hold my hand in the car or on the couch.

29.  I know with 100% certainty that he would never be unfaithful. He tells me all of the time that our marriage is the most important relationship in his life.

30. He works hard at work during the week, but is really good about turning it off on the weekends.

31. He has the biggest soft spot for his Katie Bear. I have to laugh at how much she has him wrapped around her little finger.

32. He is good at fixing things. A jammed garbage disposal, a toilet that won't stop running, a door that won't lock... he takes care of it.

33. He tells me I look pretty even when I know that I don't.

34. He gives great hugs. I love the feel of his huge arms wrapped around me. I love to watch his huge arms wrapped around the kids.

35. He is a wonderful role model for our boys.

36. We have a good time together, even if we are just hanging out on the couch after the kids go to bed.   I can't imagine another person I could enjoy spending time with as much.