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Happy Birthday to the biggest mean ass I know!
August 2nd, 2006
I reread my last year’s post for Shaun’s birthday. Didn’t that just say it all?
Of course not, why would I be here at 10:23 pm the night before his birthday writing this if I had said it all?
This last year has been Cuh-RAY-zee! Honestly, I have probably been the crazy one and you’ve been the one that sits up and holds me and tells me it’s going to be okay. The world has spit out so many new things in our life the last few years and with each new thing you teach me more things about you and make me learn new things about myself.
In August of last year we sent our 5 kids off to a new year in school. I stopped working and that started a whole new adventure for us. Learning how to live off one paycheck and me left to beat all these children without someone to hold them down. You came home to chunks of my hair in the bottom of the shower and me in a ball in the corner of the closet whimpering about how I would go back to work and how you could stay home. You tried to take me up on it and that snapped me back to reality.
You opened your doors in September for two of the craziest bloggers on the internet and drove FIVE women with anxiety disorders to San Francisco. You carried all our bags and never once complained.
For your son’s 15th birthday you drove around to every dog rescue place to find him the most perfect dog.
You walked with me as I tried to get a loan. This should only be attempted with someone on your side. I’m glad it was you that was there with me.
You held me after someone ran into me and destroyed our brand new car. You also took it in stride when I had to borrow my ex-husbands truck until we could find a way to fix the damages.
Somehow you managed to make my 13 year old daughter laugh after getting braces put on.
We welcomed your brother’s twins into the world. We welcomed your step-son home from Afghanistan. We welcomed your ex-wife’s new baby into the world.
Each one of these events brought me closer to you. How proud you were of your brother as he held his daughters was beautiful. When Dennis made his way off the plane and hugged his way to you just made my heart swell. When your ex-wife handed you her new baby and you accepted him to the Baland family name with out reservation and showered all the love you have on him makes me proud to call you my best friend.
You showed me more about myself in those moments than I thought possible. You showed me that I can trust you with more than just my heart, but the hearts of everyone I love. You showed me to be unselfish and how to step outside of what is normally comfortable to do what is right.
It’s been a crazy year for both of us. I didn’t want to kill you once…okay, I wanted to kill you less than I did last year…
You’re my best friend and my Husband. Two titles you take so seriously.
This next year we watch your son make his way into his junior year in high school, watch him learn how to drive and fumble his way through girlfriends.
We watch our older daughters finish jr. high, cry over broken hearts and started periods.
You hold me as I cry when the two little ones finish another grade in school and learn new things that make their world more dangerous.
You signed up for so much when you said, “Let’s try this again. I think we can make it work this time.”
I love you, Shaun.
Happy Birthday.
Filed under Random |50 Responses to “Happy Birthday to the biggest mean ass I know!”
Happy Birthday Shaun!
Happy Birthday Shaun! Leos rule!
Happy birthday, Shaun!
Happy birthday, Shaun!
That post brought a tear to my eye…damn hormones.
Happy B-day Shaun.
Hooray for Shaun! Happy Birthday, Big Man!
happy b-day shaun!
PS: jamie, same here. you think it’s hormones? hmmm…
Happy birthday Shaun… :)
p.s. great post, kristine!
happy birthday Shaun!
I hope that you have a fabulous day…you deserve it!
Kristine,
A lot happened this year and you’re doin ok. Love can do amazing things…
Happy Birthday, Shaun!
Many many happy returns…
(Apparently I thought yesterday was Thursday :)
Kristine, you done good. On all counts.
What a sweet post (*sniffle!*)
Happy birthday to Shaun!
Happy Birthday Shaun.
He “drove FIVE women with anxiety disorders to San Francisco” ?? I would add “saint” to the list along with husband and friend!
awww that totally made me get all teary!! happy birthday shaun!!
*teary eyed here*
Happy Birthday Shaun!!
Happy birthday, Shaun!
That was one hell of a tribute, Kristine. You done good.
Happy birthday dude!
Way to be only the second man ever to drive around five crazy chicks at once. You are now in an exclusive club with Tara Reid’s chauffer! Enjoy!
I need a fucking tissue now.
Dammit.
Happy Birthday to the mostest fabulous husband EVER.
Happy Birthday!
You two are so lucky to have eachother! What fabulous people you are!
Aaaw… Happy b-day, Shaun.
Thanks everyone!!
Thanks for the great post, wife!
Happy Birthday, Shaun!
Kristine, you made me cry again.
Way better than a Hallmark. Ya got me, happy now?yeah, I got tears.
That was too sweet, just like Shaun. The best brother-in-law I know. Happy Birthday!!!
from your favorite sister-in-law of course. xoxoxox
Happy Birthday Shaun!
Happy Birthday to the best bag handler ever.
Love you!
Happy Birthday Shaun.
A beautiful post. Happy Birthday Shaun.
Wow, that is simply amazing. What a great guy. I hadn’t realized he had adopted his ex’s baby - that is really sweet. Not many people would have that big of a heart. It sounds like you have a keeper! Well, duh, you already knew that.
Happy Birthday!
Noooo Katie, he didn’t adopt his ex wife’s baby. She is raising this child on her own without the father in the picture. She didn’t want the child to have the father’s last name, but to have hers….which is Shaun’s family last name. This child isn’t a Baland, but has his last name so he can feel a part of his brother and sisters and mom.
Shaun is ‘Uncle Shaun’ and loves that little guy a lot though!!
If anything were to happen, I’m sure Shaun would probably take him in a heartbeat ;)
Happy Birthday Shaun! You are an amazing man, with an incredibile wife! Wishing you all the best!
Happy Birthday, Shaun!
Ahhhh, gotcha. That is STILL really sweet. To care that much about his children’s mother, and to care so much for that little guy. It is wonderful to hear how close-knit you all are - and to give a little boy such a great name from a great guy is really sweet and will make him feel a part of something. Sorry I mixed that up! I actually have a friend who did the same thing with her ex - when she had her second child and didn’t want the baby to have that father’s last name. It ended up being nice for the baby, because she has something in common with the older sibling.
Shaun sounds like a great dad and cool uncle! And ya’all are lucky to have each other! Tell him Happy Birthday!
hehehhe….I’m a bag handler.
I was going to say It Is What It Is. But thought better of it. (kiddin’)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Shaun, and what a great post you wrote Kristine!! Much love to you both.
you two rock the fuckin house…
i am so glad to say i *know* you… :)
happy birthday!
peace…
Happy Birthday Shaun!
You’re an amazingly fortunate fellow. :)
Well damnit. I’m choked up reading this.
Happy Birthday Shaun. They oughta clone you.
Thank you everyone.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHAUN!!! You are in LUV with a LEO GOD bless your ass!! hahaa!!
XO
SB
Ya’ll are both such incredible people. :)
Happy Birthday Shaun!!!!!!
Great post! Wish I knew ya’ll in person.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHAUN!
*sniffle* stop getting us all emotional.
Happy Birthday Shaun. May the years get better and better :)
What a sweet Birthday post ! Happy Birthday Shaun !
I was confused too, like Snickrsnack. Why didn’t the ex give the baby the last name of the older children or her maiden name and change hers too? If you have two sets with different last names…whats a third? What is she going to tell that baby when he asks about his family name when he gets older? Sorry, didn’t mean to go off on a tangent. Happy birthday Shaun.
happy birthday shaun, and despite what i said on flickr, 37 really isn’t that old. i am turning 35 @ the end of the month. yikes….35!!
Shaun’s ex kept Baland as her last name when they divorced. Her older children are from her first marriage and she has since dropped that last name. The two older children are grown and living in different states. Little man will be raised with Shaun’s children who have the last name as Baland and so does his mom. She never had little man’s biological father’s last name as he wasn’t in the picture.
*deep breath* did I lose you?
Anyway, if he asks about his father, of course she will tell him in the most gentle way possible and explain to him that his last name belongs to a VERY special family that she calls her family.
This way..he belongs. Every single day he becomes more and more like a Baland. I think it was one of the smartest things she did. He belongs. He has his mom’s last name, his brother and sisters’ last name and his favorite uncles’ last name…and of course his Auntie Kristine’s NEW last name!!
And really, isnt feeling like a part of such a wonderful family the most important thing?
Happy Birthday Shaun!
Whew! A lot to catch up on. Now that we’ve got that straight, Happy Belated Birthday Shaun!!
I know what you mean about the last name thingy. I always had intended on keeping my maiden name because it was unusual and because I have no brothers or uncles to carry on my Dad’s family name. However, when I married Pool Boy, he had 3 kids and they had no mom (deceased) so I changed my mind and took on his last name so it wouldn’t be so confusing for the kids with teachers etc. Don’t regret it.
Speaking of which, today is me 17th wedding anniversary and I’ve shared pictures from that day on my blog. I got the idea after I saw your wedding pictures with your blended family and it brought back memories of mine! Thanks for the nudge, Kristine! Come check ‘em out.
A very belated (but no less sincere) HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Shaun. You are such a blessing to the people in your life. Rock on, dude.
damn, man - 48 birthday wishes? Well, make it 49! Happy belated most Blithesome Day-you-Came-Into-the-World-Day, Shaun~
p.s. Kristine, you need to update your “About Me” section… you have a fantastic HUSBAND!