Sunday, June 28, 2009

Happy Birthday/Father's Day/Anniversary!

June is full of celebrations for our family, and none more so than for Mike. On the 8th, he celebrated birthday #46, then Fathers Day on the 21st, and tomorrow our 24th anniversary. I decided to do one long (and I do mean long- brace yourselves) blog post in honor and tribute to my wonderful husband.
He had a great childhood being raised in Logan. He was always a very good, obedient and happy boy.
He started playing football in 3rd grade and played until his senior year at LHS. He has many great memories about football, and often dreams that he's back in high school, on the team, but can't find his equipment needed for the game.



He remembers his Dad taking him fishing and teaching him how to clean the fish, although he wouldn't do that today.
He owned his own dirt bike which he loved riding around the dirt hills which is now the Cliffside neighborhood in Logan.
He participated in track in high school.
He has a fabulous extended family consisting of two sisters and a brother. We always love the time spent with them.
His mom Freda and his step-dad Tom have been a great influence in his life. They've always supportive every activity he's done, and been there for all his accomplishments.

He's always told me what a great example his two grandmothers were in his life. He has always spoken very highly of them, and the time and attention and love they gave him.He graduated from USU in business, and has worked for the past 22 1/2 years in the pension administration business, owning his own business since 1996- the year we moved back to Logan. He works hard (and long hours) to support his family, enabling me to be a stay-at-home mother, which has been a great blessing for our family.

He's adventurous, funny, goofy, daring, active, and he makes funny faces and noises. He can laugh just like a billy goat. Ask him to do it next time you see him! He's a good sport and is good at most all sport. He enjoys gardening, yard work, and reading.


He has a mild case of narcolepsy. He falls asleep without knowing it if he's really tired, and can have a dream - after only 10 seconds asleep. He can sleep anywhere- in any position.




He's a true USU Aggie- having grown up in Logan, and graduating from USU. However, since meeting me, he's become quite a big BYU football fan- when they're not playing USU that is-. then he has to be true to the Aggies. It's been fun sharing a common love for the cougars.

His favorite things to do in his free time (which there isn't much of) is biking,football- playing, coaching, watching. (he makes us dress up like this every fall when football season starts--- just kidding!)
racquetball- he started playing in 9th grade, and has loved playing ever since. He plays in the "open" division, which is the best there is. He was won many tournaments, and has a box full of trophies and plaques.

He loves doing the stats for the LHS football team. He's been doing this since '97. He loves being down on the field next to all the action. He loved it when the girls were in high school and cheering and could talk to them on the sidelines. He's stuck with it so long (it's just a volunteer thing) just waiting for the day when the boys are out there playing and he can be there to encourage and watch them up close.
Next I will do a tribute to him as a terrific Father. His 4 kids bring him so much joy and happiness. He loves spending time with them, and will drop anything he needs or wants to do to be with them. For years he's put his love of biking on the back burner so he can attend and, in the past coach, the boys ball games. He's so selfless with the time spent on doing the things he's interested in to be with the kids instead. He's patient, loving, and kind to them, and I know they notice and appreciate the kind of Dad they have. I know I do!


Last of all, I'll do a section celebrating our marriage and the wonderful 24 years we've had together. Mike has always treated me like a queen- putting my wants and desires ahead of his own. He is so good to do anything I ask him around the house and yard, and oftentimes, will do things I haven't even asked him to do- he's just noticed something needs to be done. He keeps a "honey do" list, and gets the items checked off in a timely manner. This winter, he decided every Saturday he would do a chore around the house that he knew I didn't love doing- and he did a better cleaning job than I would have done! There's nothing he wouldn't do around the house, yard, or garage. Cooking in the kitchen however, is one area where he's not asserted himself too much- except on crepe Sundays. Thanks Mike for being such a great husband to me. Some other things I love about you:
You're kind, nice, humble, funny, considerate, hard-working, compassionate, spiritual, motivated, organized, clean, smart, dependable, a good listener, and good at foot massages. Here's to the next 24 happy years! I love you.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Jessica is 19!

Jessica turned 19 yesterday and I wanted to do a tribute to her. I have to start off by saying the following isn't the best compilation of pictures of her taken over the years. Most of those have been scrapbooked, and I didn't feel like locating or scanning those pictures yesterday (since I was having a birthday as well) so I just found some that were convienient in my photo albums (okay, I did take one or two from her scrapbooks).

Jessica was born on June 13, 1990- my 29th birthday. She weighed 9 lbs 13 oz. I was two weeks overdue, so when the doctor asked me if I'd like to be induced on the 12th or 13th, I chose the 13th because I thought it would be fun to share a birthday with her--- and it has been! I've never regretted that decision.
If you know Jessica well, you'll know she has a great love for babies. Any baby, any place or time. A great example of this was Brody asked her the other day if a mother of triplet babies that she didn't even know asked her to babysit for a weekend w/o pay- would she do it? Without even thinking, she answered "yes!" I think her love for babies began when she was three and Jake was born. She mothered him and held him much more than her big sister did (sorry Ky- but I have to be honest). The same held true when Cam was born, and from then on many relatives, ward members, neighbors- she's not picky- have benefited from her wonderful mothering skills. The following are pictures of some babies/kids she's especially been close to and has tended a lot.



Jessica has always had a talent for sleeping soundly and being able to fall asleep anywhere. Sadly this held true with driving. . .

She's always been daring and not afraid to try anything. She has done the skycoaster at Lagoon and the Celebration Center many times, wanted to go sky diving after graduation from high school, but couldn't find anyone to go with her, loves rollercoasters, has never been afraid of the water and swimming or just getting squirted in the face with water!



She loves her family. She and the boys have had a lot of fun together over the years, and some not so fun times (as can be said for all siblings, right?) Although she and Kylee have never had any problems getting along.



She's always had great friends. Surprisingly, for a girl who didn't like boys until she was 16, three of her best friends from age 2-8 were boys! I'm grateful for her friends who have been a great example to her and have always been there for her.
She loves to dance, tumble and cheer. She started taking dance when she was three, and took until her sophomore year in high school. She then took tumbling to help her prepare to try out for cheer, which she did her senior year and had a wonderful experience doing that.

Another talent she has that I forgot to get a picture of is her playing the piano. She took lessons for about 10 years, and has done a pretty good job to keep up on playing since she quit lessons.

I love sweet Jessica and am so happy and blessed to have her as my daughter and friend.