Today is my mom’s birthday. Happy Birthday mom! Hope you had a great day. Let the party begin and carry on throughout the summer! I love my mom so much – she is my best friend and I can’t even begin to imagine life without her. We talk every day, even if it is just for five minutes to share what we’ve been up to during the day. I love it. I love so many things about my mom. Here are just a few…

My mom is a total “YELLOW” personality. “Yellow” people believe that life is a party and they are hosting it! That is the best way to describe my mom! She is such a happy, upbeat, fun loving person. It is impossible to be mad or stressed when you are around my mom. She has a magical way of making everything fun or funny. She is a blast to be around.

My mom is ALWAYS there for me. I can’t even begin to count all the times she has gone above and beyond for me. This is one of my favorite pictures of my mom. It was taken in 1998. I had just finished getting my Elementary Education degree and was about to teach my first Elementary class. I was a total wreck! The classroom I was moving into was filthy and I had no clue what I was doing. I called her crying and told her I was staring at a blank plan book. She was there in minutes and we spent HOURS cleaning and decorating that room. Not only did she help, but she did what she always does…she made it fun! I went from tears and stress to laughter and excitement. Then she spent the next few days helping me plan and get ready for my first weeks of teaching. I would have been so lost without her!

This picture was taken during another time she totally came through for me. Having a newborn is stressful enough for me…adding a high maintenance two year old and a potty training deadline nearly put me over the edge! After I had Addison, I had one month to get Ellie potty trained because she was starting a little preschool a few days a week and she had to be potty trained to go there. My mom stepped right in. Potty trained Ellie, took shifts with Addison, made meals, cleaned my house and most importantly, calmed me down! I will forever be grateful to my mom for all she did for me during this time.

Another thing I love about my mom is how darling she has always been with Kenny. From day one since I married Kenny she has welcomed him in the family and treated him like a son. The two of them have a great relationship and really have a good time together. Last time she visited, they got talking about how much they both love reading People magazine. Two weeks later, Kenny got a People magazine in the mail addressed to him and they’ve been coming every week. So sweet mom! Kenny loves you so much!

Family ALWAYS comes first with my mom. She is the happiest of all when all of her family is around. She always lets us all know how much she loves us and always puts our needs before her own. She has a great relationship with my dad and is simply the best mom ever. This is a picture of her when she opened the gift Car and I gave her for Mother’s Day (a picture of her three granddaughters). We knew she would love it…family means everything to her.

Another thing I love about my mom is what a great friend she is. She loves her friends so much! She would do anything for them. She is extremely giving and has always been a good example to me of how to be a good friend. (If you’re in the mood to laugh…just hang out with these four women. They will have you rolling in minutes!).

I always knew my mom would be a perfect grandma and let me tell you -she really is! She is so darling with my kids. She loves them like I do. She has such a special relationship with each of my girls. They absolutely adore her! My mom’s calling in life was definitely to be a grandma!

My mom is such an amazing woman. She enjoys and appreciates life each and every day. Sometimes I do or say something and Kenny teases me that I’m turning more and more into my mom. I can’t think of a better compliment. Love you always mom!

So today is my dad’s birthday – Happy Birthday Dad! I’ve been thinking a lot this week about all of the things I love about my dad and although I could write a novel on the subject, I’m going to try to share just a few things. When Car and I were little, my mom worked nights at a restaurant and my dad was in charge of the kids. Some of my earliest memories are of him playing with us in the evenings. He would bathe us and put curlers in our hair and then it was our turn to put curlers and barrettes in his hair. We would do his hair and then laugh and laugh at our creation. We put him through so much abuse! I remember loving that time every night with my dad.

My dad loves the outdoors – camping, hunting, fishing – all of it. We went camping and fishing all the time. He owned an Archery Shop aside from his job at the college and I have so many fun memories of camping and hanging out in the shop with my dad.

When I got older and so involved in dancing my dad never missed anything! He came to every recital, High School drill team competition, and every football and basketball game we performed at. When I was on the drill team at Dixie College he even came to all of those games to see me dance. I can’t believe all of the performances and games he sat through for me (aside from all of the stuff my sister and brother were involved in). He was always so supportive and proud of us. He was also always the calm voice of reason. I remember when I turned 16 and got my driver’s licence. A couple of weeks later I got in my first accident! I came home so nervous to tell my parents about it but explained to them that it could have been worse…I didn’t get a ticket…just a “citation.” My mom was so mad at me! (“Dang it Erin! A ticket IS a citation!”) She wanted to ground me from the car for awhile but my dad’s calm response was “No…the best thing for Erin is to get right back out on the road. Accidents happen…all part of the learning process.” Loved ya for that one dad!

My dad has a silly, fun side that a lot of people don’t get to see. He was always saying and doing stupid things to get me and Car and Austin laughing. We’re always rolling our eyes and trying to suppress a smile around my dad. I have great memories of the holidays because he always made Christmas SO FUN for us. On Christmas Eve morning he would wake us up playing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on his Guitar or Saxophone (he plays both!).

My dad is extremely intelligent and always really stressed the importance of education. School and homework ALWAYS came first when we were growing up. He was the Dean of the Business Department of a college and I remember as a little girl thinking my dad was SO smart and SO important. I always wanted to marry someone who was smart and worked in an office like my dad. (Got my wish there!) When I was little I loved to go visit my dad in his big office. Then Car and I would go home and pretend that we were secretaries working for him. We would answer our pretend phones “Hello, Business and Technology…would you like to speak to the Dean?” :) Today my dad is the President of a different college that he helped get up and running and I’m so proud of him. He is a hard worker and loved and respected by everyone in the community.

One of the things I love most about my dad is the way he loves my mom. He is an amazing husband to her. He is extremely patient and caring and always puts her needs first. My mom is….well my mom! She is over the top social, spends too much money, stresses over everything and generally creates a lot of drama and excitement for them both. My dad is the best thing for her (the calm of the storm!) and we all wonder how he does it sometimes! This picture is of him proposing to her again on their 29th Wedding Anniversary (didn’t want to do it on the 30th because she would be expecting something big!). He sent her new diamond to me early because they were coming to San Diego and he wanted to surprise her. So cute! They have an amazing relationship.

Since I’ve had Ellie, it has been so fun to see my dad as a grandpa. He is so darling with my kids! He plays with them for hours! Ellie gets so excited to go to Utah to see Grandpa Van. They have a special routine for just the two of them called “feeding the fish.” My dad takes her out to his garage (which is more like a little house!) and they feed the fish in his aquarium. Then they play all sorts of made up games. Ellie really looks forward to all of her time with grandpa and so do I! I love seeing the special relationship my dad is forming with each of my kids. I know they will cherish those memories forever. (This pic is of my dad with Ellie and my sister’s baby Claire). Cute grandpa!

Dad – I could go on forever about all the things I love about you. You have been the best dad a girl could ask for and I’ve always felt so lucky to be your daughter! Thanks for all you have done and continue to do for me. I love you so much! Hope your birthday is the best!!!