It only happens once a year

As I was thinking about you on your birthday today I wanted to wish you a very happy birthday. Originally my post was to be a list of all your great qualities, achievements and characteristics. But, I kept coming back to what we as your children often forget to say...thank you! So mom this is a happy birthday wish with all the thank yous' you deserve.

THANK YOU FOR

• Always making dinner and encouraging us to have dinner as a family each day.
• Teaching us to be savvy with our money and make wise choices when it came to spending.
• Having fun treats ready for us to snack on each day after school.
• Taking us to the doctor or the dentist even if it meant we had 8 cavities.
• Encouraging us to have and make good friends with like values.
• Forcing us to love our siblings, somehow now that all makes sense!
• Making us share rooms with each other even when the other sibling was a messy roommate.
• Letting us build all kinds of dangerous forts in the backyard.
• Allowing us to have animals that smelt, ran away and caused more problems then they were worth.
• Teaching us to pray and believe in a higher being.
• Loving our father in a way we we saw each day.
• Showing us how to set goals and reach them.
• Taking us to dinner even if everyone stared at us like we were from Colorado City.
• Sacrificing so we could go on trips like Disneyland (twice)
• Teaching your girls how to cook, clean and sew...priceless skills.
• Letting us sleep in your room when we were scared of the thunder or a man at the top of the stairs.
• Letting us sneak some popcorn and black licorice on our way to bed.
• Taking us to our grandma and grandpas so we could spend the night.
• Teaching us that what others think doesn't matter when you do what is right.
• Sharing your birth experiences with your girls in a way that was special and educational.
• Helping your boys complete their Eagle Scout even when they wanted to quit.
• Counseling your children to be good and do good.
• Making your children acquire good grades and a job in order to get a drivers license.

Most important mom you have always been there. What a bunch of lucky kids we are to have you. Having a child is lots of work but having 10 takes someone special. We hope your birthday is a special one!