Happy Birthday Duran

Upon your birthday: favorite memories with and things about Duran (just a few of many)

1. Your ready laugh (I know it's a little more ready when we're not remodeling or moving, but it's still there and still magical.)
2. The day we were married--still tops on my list of days that I've felt the most love (Our children's births are #s 2, 3, and 4).
3. "Going to the football games and getting ice cream with you, just playing with him. I love him" (Allie)
4. "Tickle" (Asher)
5. "Snuggles" (Naomi, with help from mom)
6. Your endless persistence and hard work--how many hours can one person squeeze into one day? I don't know how you've done what you have, but we're thankful for it and proud of you.
7. Your dance moves.
8. The day you told me about the new job--true thankfulness and appreciation.
9. The day you took all three kids for a couple of hours and you were ready to kill them at the end--It made me feel so good to know that if you, the best dad ever could get frustrated at our little crew, then I shouldn't feel too bad that I loose it sometimes too. Thanks for being human.
10. The day we took a detour on our way home from Vegas and decided to get off the freeway.
11. The way you act when you come out of anesthesia--"I just love you guys"
12. Your thoughtfulness of others: stopping to help a stranded car or break up a fight, letting Lauri stay in our home, little gifts for the kids, and on and on. Thanks for nudging me when I'm not as generous.
13. You kept bees!
14. Our many trips: Florida, England, Washington D.C., New York, Connecticut, California, Vegas, Texas, Nebraska, Idaho, Alaska and camping (what did I miss?) and where we want to go: England again, India, Peru, Israel, China, Iceland, Brazil, Hawaii New Zealand, anywhere with cool rocks, Italy and everywhere else in the world.
15. You're the only one I know who has a food handler's permit, HAM radio license, is Red Cross certified, a realtor, has a degree in politcal science, knows how to take a person down without hurting them, can crochet, fix just about anything, do statistical analysis, play the harmonica, have an intelligent discussion about Mugabe, fix some mean Naan and has shaken hands with Prince Charles. Your one of a kind.

So many more...so many more to come. Happy birthday. We love you.