Happy Birthday Tom and Happy 4th

The 4th of July is Tom's Birthday. He is on number 39. This is not the best picture but then I am waiting for a promised haircut before I get a good photo. It has now been one year since Tom vowed to not cut his hair. I am not sure why he felt the need to go all hippy on me but he said something about "Making hay while the sun shines." He is, after all, going to be the big "40" next year.

Why I love Tom:

He is funny in a naughty kind of way that somehow always makes me laugh despite myself.

He does unexpected things like grow his hair long or take the previously unexplored trail while hiking.

He is a dreamer. He has ambitions to do things and always has whether it is traveling, starting a band or learning a new song on the piano.

Speaking of which he is a musician and I totally have a weak spot for a musician.

He loves his kids, especially that two and three year old age which I have to admit is not always my fave. This past weekend he laughed as he took on his two older kids in a one on one game of soccer in the front yard. I just thought that was adorable.

He always honors his priesthood and fulfills his church callings. I absolutely wanted a husband who did these things and as the years have passed I have come to understand how valuable this trait is in a man.

He always supports me in my writing endeavors. In fact he encourages me to get better at this skill.

He is always so gentle with me when I am feeling totally sick. I totally appreciate this since I am often unwell.

He takes pictures of sunsets for me to see later or wakes me up to see a really cool orange moon. He loves the outdoors and is constantly amazed by nature.

He is way stronger than me. I have to admit I feel all girly inside when my husband easily moves a piece of furniture or opens a jar that was giving me fits.
I love you Tom and I really don't think 39 is all that old.

The 4th of July was a great laid back kind of day and I would post pictures but I am having a hard time moving the pictures where I want. Tom started the morning early with Isaac and his Dad on the golf course. We watched our good old Cedar City parade. Rebecca got on a float at the last minute and she happily waved her flag down Main Street. We came home for a lazy lunch and then headed to see UP with some friends and family. I got a little sick during the movie theatre and for an hour or so there I thought I wasn't going to pull off the rest of the evening. Fortunately, a little rest did the trick and Tom and I cooked in the kitchen and at the barbecue together for his bar-b-que party. We made Jamaican Jerk chicken and bacon wrapped sjrimp. I felt bad that Tom was cooking on his birthday but honestly I like cooking with him so much I just could not put a stop to it. We opened presents, watched the kids throw water balloons and chilled until nighttime fell. Tom and the kids and I sat on the curb and set off a few of our own fireworks. Our new favorites are the "eyeballs" and the "Jack in the Box." It's funny but this simple few minutes was honestly my favorite part of the day. We then went and finished our evening watching both the Enoch and Cedar fireworks from a great vantage point. Our kids fell into bed with their clothes on. It was a great day.