Happy Birthday to Ross.

Dear Daddy,

Mom said you turn 30 today. You're old. It's a good thing you have a lot to show for your life:
I hear you were such a dream-son, your family called you 72 and sunny...always in a good mood, mom says you still are. That she's lucky you put up with her more Utah-like temperatures, some definite highs and lows, some possible showers, maybe a RAGING snow storm here and there. Don't really know what she means by all of that.

I hear you've taken a couple of trips to Europe, lived in Brazil for two years teaching people about the gospel, studied and graduated from BYU, and made anyone who met you there, love you. Mom told me you had way more friends than her and still do. I hear you sort of had a little landscaping business when you were young, it's ok that you had to hire someone to keep our grass green now, mom says it's really hard in the desert. :) And is it true you were Homecoming King in Highschool? You're cool. You'll have to tell me that when I'm in Highschool and maybe it will make up for your "dad-jokes", mom says you've already started those.

And mom. You met mom and swept her off her feet. That's somethin'. I hear there were a couple of glitches, perhaps she had to be swept twice to know you were the one. But from what she says, even with all the "crazy-wife moments" she has, you have made her whole world. Taking her to the temple, starting a whole new grown-up life with her, with a couch, a bed, and dishes and all of that (even though mom says the couch was hideous and covered in a red t-shirt-sheet and the bed was on the living room floor so you could watch Friend's reruns at midnight every night)... a sort of grown-up life nonetheless. That's somethin'. You took that job at Merrill and bought a real-live house and worked your tail off to meet your goals so you could be one of the few that actually stay at Merrill. You made it possible for Mom to stay home so Mila and I don't have to spend our days with someone else. And even though you work hard, you come home every night happy, and ready to BE with us. To chase me around the house and let me wear your suit coat and read me stories and give me my bath and sing silly songs and DANCE. Mom says your dancing should be contained to the house but I think you dance like a superstar.

What do you have to show for being 30? Us! You have us, two beautiful girls who kiss you goodbye each morning, miss you all day, and wait anxiously for you to return at night. (Mila can't show it yet but it's true, she told me.) You're a good dad-- just check out the pictures below. You've already built mountains of memories with me, and there are so many years for more! I'm glad you're 30. Makes you sound more dad-like, more professional, more grown-up. Mom said she thinks it's hot. Whatever that means.

Just a few magic moments:

Thanks for loving me, even when I'm a little devil.













You are superman to us.

Thanks for doing "1,2,3 swing! with mommy...I still love that...



Thanks for throwing me...
And chasing me...

sliding with me...

and rowing me...

Sledding with me...



But carrying me when I'm over it.


Mila says she really likes your broad chest and the sound of your heartbeat. She loves how you keep your cool even when she's crying... mom says maybe you just don't hear her over the Football game. ;) She loves being held by you...




I like that too...

You're the best, dad. We all think so. Three girls are madly in love with you... and I think that's a lot, for someone who's only 30.

Love,
Sophia

(Mila wanted to write but she's still too sleepy, and too little.)