Hurry, Ben Comes!

I'd just like to take a moment and brag on my husband for a bit. He is such a great friend to me and such a fantastic daddy to our boys. We are very grateful for such a wonderful provider and support to our family.

Something that means to the most to this exhausted pregnant mommy is how energetic he is after a long day's work. Every day, he comes home from a physically demanding job, and wrestles with the boys. He opens the door slowly, knowing that the boys would be hiding after hearing him press the keys to the automatic lock, and he asks where they are. The boys are not very imaginative at this point. They hide in exactly the same spots: Ben under the couch pillows and Jack behind the small couch, in the bookshelf. But still, their daddy searches throughout the room - amidst the giggling - until he uncovers their dimply faces and shrieks of delight.

Almost immediately, they want to play. Especially Jack. And his first request is always the same. "Hurry, Ben comes! Hurry, Ben comes!"

We've come to know this as a game. A game of chase. Andy scoops up Jack in his arms and runs across the room. Ben knows to follow, running after the pair as if his life depended on it. They run from one side of the room to the other, to the bedroom and through the kitchen. He jumps over Ben, dodges away from his grabs and screams as if they were this close to touching him. After about a minute (or whenever Andy decides Jack's turn is over,) he lets Ben 'get them' and he switches toddlers. Then the game becomes, "Hurry, Jack comes!" After a few rounds, Daddy is always sweating while the boys are still begging for me. It is the cutest thing to watch. My heart swells with pride that a grown man would love his two-year-olds enough to entertain their repetetive games.

Jack dancing while Daddy sings into the microphone. You can just see the admiration in his eyes.

We were out to dinner tonight and I was helping the boys catch up Daddy on our day. Jack asked if we could go home and it made me smile. If given the choice, that boy will always choose to stay home rather than go out. "Do you like being home?" I asked him. He, of course, answered affirmatively. "What do you like to do when you're at home?" I asked again.

His answer? It wasn't painting... or reading books... or shooting his Nerf gun... or playing with his brother... all of which are some of his favorite activities. You guessed it.

He responded with a quick smile. "Hurry, Ben comes!"