Happy Birthday Sam

It's Samuel's birthday and time for his top ten list:
10. That if he ever got in trouble or did anything wrong in school... I didn't know about it
9. Sam has the most patience of anyone I know
8. His faith
7. His sarcastic sense of humor (family trait!)
6. His perserverance
5. He is so good with small children (that patience thing really helps here)
4. How easy he can speak in public ... the bigger the crowd the better
3. But then his shyness when talking one on one (inherited from his dad)
2. How thrifty he is (Sam is the only person I know who framed a $100.00 bill)
1. That he found the perfect woman to share his life with when he married Kelsey.

Happy Birthday Matthew

Matthew turns 28 today. When did that happen? It seems like just a little while ago that Tommy and I were bringing him home to our little pink house by Oak Park. I remember that first night when we put him to bed and he slept straight through the night. The time in between that night and today were filled with ear infections, Little League, soccer, volleyball, mission, wedding and our first grandchild. He asked me if he was going to get a top ten list like the ones I did for our September birthdays so here it is:

10. A slightly wicked sense of humor

9. Passion for sports (pretty much any sport!)

8. Willingness to help others

7. His intelligence (Matt was always able to pass tests without even studying for them)

6. Hard worker and provider for his family.

5. Great Debater (It is so funny to watch my boys "discuss" their opinions... they get so into it)

4. That he did such a fantastic job finding the perfect wife!

3. How close he is to his extended family

2. The relationship he has with his dad (I love that he and Tommy have always had such a great relationship ... even through the terrible teen years)

1. Matthew is a fabulous dad. He loves his little boy so much and is a hands-on daddy (even changing dirty diapers!). I will never forget the night we were all at the cabin. Andrew was just a few months old. I heard him wake up in the middle of the night and I was going to get up and get him. But immediately I heard Matthew up and taking care of him, talking to him and comforting him. At that moment I think I was the most proud of him as I have ever been!

Happy birthday Matthew!

#51

Happy Birthday Tommy!

These are some of my favorite pictures of Tommy. There are actually many, many more but they all include me or the boys. The one at the top is my favorite picture of his family. They were at his grandma's house. Then there is that really cute one of him with his Grandpa Lopes. I think the next one was taken the same day but I find it ironic that he is holding a softball in it. Who knew? There is a school picture (probably around 4th or 5th grade), his broken arm and the work picture before he started cutting his hair so short. But the next one is truly priceless. Believe it or not, we used to go to these 50s dances all the time and this was Tommy's "look". When he donned this outfit he turned into someone else ... not shy at all and the life of the party. Here he is doing his best Fonzie impression. Happy 51st birthday.