SIX!

Six things that we love about you....

6. You have a tender heart. It often gets lost in the shuffle of day to day life but every now and then it shines through and reminds us that behind that rough, tough and stubborn little guy... you need a little tender loving care from mommy and daddy.

5. You love being a twin.  Ben is your best buddy and through it all... you never want anyone besides him by your side!

4. You LOVE allison with all your heart and if you could make her laugh every minute of the day you would.  You are the first one to kiss and hug her everytime you see her. You will be her protector always!

3.  You love routine (even when you bawk at it) you like mom and dad home with you, to feed you and put you to sleep.  You like Ben in the bunk above you and allie in the room next door to you!  You are best when everything is routine!

2. You love the outdoors, hot and cold don't affect you... You love to build snow forts, swim in the pool and the lake. You love to ride your bike, swing on the monkey bars and explore in the woods. You are always up for a trip to the dog park with Berkeley!

1. You love to talk!  We sometimes joke that you don't even take a breath between thoughts.  Its often hard for your brother to get a thought in. You negotiate about everything! I swear your are going to be negotiating mergers or arguing a defense some day.  This skill will do you well long term.... and I try to remind myself that someday you wont want to share every detail of your day. 

Six Things that we love about you...

6. You are tenacious... you never give up. you don't follow the crowd for better or worse you do what you want to do and what is comfortable for you. 

5. ¥ou are a dog guy, you love Berks!  You are often found laying by her on her bed, petting her giving her treats and giving her food and water.

4. You are a bit of a ladies man!  Your best buds are often girls!  You are thoughtful and kind to them.  You often give them hugs and share treasures with them.  I hope that you always treat women like this... 

3. You are hungry all the time!  If you could eat 10 meals a day you would be happy!  When you were little I was often stessed because you wouldn't drink as much milk as Nathan... I slowly figured you out!  And now.... I just get the snacks ready!  Your favorite quote is usually "mom, whats healthy that I could eat!"

2. You are ever the engineer. Building and figuring things out is what you do best!  You construct legos, magnatiles, car ramps, marble runs and snap circuits!  Your spacial recognition, problem solving and patterning will lead you into an OR, a chemistry lab or a product development center!  

1. You too LOVE the outdoors!  You could fish for hours and build igloos for days.  You love riding scooters and bikes, playing at the park and exploring.  Your favorite thing is running around at the lake, shirtless with a stick in your hand and a bon fire by your side!

I still wish that I had a crystal ball on those scary days in the fall of 2009.  I wish that someone could have reassured me that it would all turn out!  The road hasn't always been easy... you two have pushed us all to our limits at times but the journey to today has been nothing short of incedible!  I have two smart, athletic, friendly, little boys who walked into kindergarten ... no one the wiser that they were once 3 pound miracles. I always tell myself that I'm not going to come back to those scary days, or that I'm over them.... that we have moved passed them... but the reality is... that is your story... that is where it all began!  You were fighters, and partners ... Brothers who literaly saved each others lives!  The stubborness and the tenacity... the hard work and the twin connection is what made it all possible!  So yes.... we will deal with the squabbles and fights... the challenges of TWO because we were blessed to have you, GRATEFUL that our house and hearts are full!

Happy 6th Birthday!