My dear, sweet husband...
Words cannot express how I truly feel about you.
(At least not in front of the children)

  There are so many things that I am thankful for
that I am not sure where to begin.

Perhaps I should start
with all of your wonderful surprises...

There is nothing quite like realizing  
  that the toilet seat is still up
especially when it is 2:00 in the morning
and I have already sat down

And your birthday presents are really wonderful...
Not only do I get to watch the children all day,
 cook my own birthday dinner, and clean up the house,
 but I also get to make my own card and buy my own present.
Thank you for being so thoughtful...
You have never truly experienced a fun-filled birthday
until you have experienced one of mine.

   Though that isn't nearly as fun
 as it was to dig out the Christmas decorations.
You silly, old man!!!
 I'm sure that you must have been teasing me
by putting them in the far, back corner
of our tiny storage locker.
  Piling the microwave and portable refrigerator on top
was such an added bonus.
It was no trouble at all...
not even with the two small children
  clutching at my leg.

But the thing that I like best is when you show up
at 10:00 at night with a coworker in tow.
 Calling ahead sure would have taken the fun out of it...
 Besides this way I am able to get an honest opinion
about how I look in my new silk teddy.

And what is really amazing is how much work
you put into helping me with the household chores.

Letting me know that the garbage
is about to overflow is a wonderful reminder.
That way I can bag it up and haul it out promptly,
rather than waiting for someone
bigger and stronger to help out.

And letting me pick up all of the children's toys,
(and I do mean ALL of the children's toys)
has been such great aerobic exercise.
I hate to think of how I might end up
spending my time otherwise!

But what really melts my heart
is how considerate you are at mealtime.

You don't need to worry about apologizing
for calling me 10 minutes after dinner is ready
to let me know that you won't be making it home.
Cooking all day just gives me more practice
to make sure that I get everything exactly right
for those rare occasions when you do show up.

 And please, please keep telling me exactly
how your mother would have done it.
That way I can be sure to get things right.

While we are talking about it,
also keep reminding me how she folded your clothes,
 I know that my way isn't nearly as good as hers.
And like you say...
Why change now when you've had it done
that way for so many years.

I guess what I am trying to say is
that with all you do around here
 I feel like I should give something back.

I know that I already cook every meal,
do all of the household chores,
 run all the errands, and change all the diapers.
Not to mention handling all of the paperwork
   and unsolicited phone calls.
       But if only there was more that I could do.

Perhaps I should start washing all
 of the dishes by hand.
 You know that dishwasher never does
get them clean enough.

And the laundry really shouldn't
be going into the washer and dryer.
Not when our tub is just sitting there
  waiting for me to scrub them.

So what I am really trying to say is
Thank You!!
I just don't know what I would
do with myself if you weren't so helpful.
 I'd have to resort to relaxing
 and thinking of myself.