Ellie is four years old today. That means I've been a daddy for four whole years. It's been quite a ride.

In honor of Ellie, I'd like to tell a story about a recent experience that I think demonstrates perfectly one of the reasons I love Ellie so much.

Last Friday, the day before Halloween, we went to a Halloween party at some friends' house. As we left (well after normal bedtime for the girls), Ellie and Annie each got a bag containing some candy. We dropped Shelly off at the home of another friend who needed some help, and I was in charge of getting the girls to bed.

As we got into the house, Ellie pulled a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup out of her bag and asked if she could eat it. I said no. She had already had way too many sweets at the party and earlier that day, it was late and time to get in bed right away, and Annie had left her candy in the car and the last thing I needed was an Annie who was crying because she didn't have candy too. Ellie protested that she was "hungry." When I offered her a carrot and she refused, I said too bad. Probably due to the late hour more than anything else, Ellie proceeded to throw a tantrum. This is very atypical of her. She's usually pretty even-tempered. But that night it all came crashing down, and Ellie threw herself on the floor, screaming that she wanted the candy. I said no one more time, and put the candy on the little end table in our living room. I picked up Annie and went upstairs to get her into her PJs. I told Ellie to come with me.

For a few minutes, Ellie stayed downstairs, crying. Once I had Annie ready for bed, I called down to her that she'd better come up right now. "One, two..." Before I got to three, Ellie, still sobbing, started coming up the stairs. When she arrived, she stopped crying and was a good girl about getting ready for bed.

After I said good night, I went back downstairs and saw the candy still sitting there right where I had put it on the end table. Ellie had been left alone with it for a few minutes, and it was right within reach, but it hadn't been touched. A bad kid would have just grabbed it and eaten it, since that was the source of the breakdown and no one was watching.

But Ellie, even at her worst, was an angel. She obeyed me and left the candy alone. She was very unhappy about doing it, but she managed the self-control to do it. I felt a moment of love and gratitude for a daughter whose heart is so pure.

I love you, Ellie. Happy birthday.