Happy Anniversary

Well, it is now official - we have been married for 13 years! And for the first time since we have been married, Mike actually forgot. This morning before he left I got up and gave him his gift - I got him an iPod docking station/alarm clock. But he made it up to me by taking me out to dinner tonight. Kenneth went with us and the food was really good - we all had a good time.

So in honor of our 13 years together, I thought I would list 13 things that I love about Mike. (Not in any particular order)

____________________________________________________________________

1. He is very laid back. Most people don't know him very well because he is pretty quite and doesn't say a whole lot. But that is typical for him - he is just real easy going.

2. Mike is the best dad I could have ever asked for my child. He spends a lot of time with Kenneth. They like to just hang out downstairs in the man cave, they mow lawns together - which is teaching Kenneth a great work ethic, and they just goof off together. Last week Mike and I were both sick with food poisoning, and Kenneth had his last football game of the season. I told Kenneth that since we were both so sick he would have to miss his game. Mike felt bad about this and so he had Kenneth get ready and drove him to his game in Firth. Mike waited in the car - sick as can be - for about 2 hours and then drove home - what a good dad!!!

3. Mike is patient - he puts up with me and my craziness - need I say anymore?

4. Mike is a hard worker. He has one of those jobs that requires a lot of flexibility and sacrifice, but he does it day after day because he loves it. He gave up his education and working as an engineer because he knew that he wanted to be a cop. It isn't always a glamorous or high paying job, but I think that he gets a lot of satisfaction out of being able to help people.

5. He embraces his inner computer nerd. He has fully accepted that he is a computer nerd and is often found fixing a computer around the house or helping out any one of our numerous friends/family that need help with technology crap.

6. Mike is a good friend/brother. Mike would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He often gets calls that someone needs help with a variety of things and he always is willing to sacrifice his time and energy to lend a helping hand.

7. He protects our family. Not that we live in a high crime area or anything, but I always feel safer when he is around. He is always available to take care of whatever we need.

8. He still thinks of himself as a kid. He doesn't ever really want to grow up. He enjoys doing so many activities and "fun stuff" that sometimes I think I have 2 kids. You can often hear me saying - "no horseplay in the house - somebody's going to get hurt" For example, a few weeks ago Mike and Kenneth were goofing around and Mike accidentally slammed Kenneth's head into a corner of the wall in the hall. Now we have a big ole dent on the corner of the wall that I don't think can be fixed........like I said, sometimes I think I have 2 kids. (don't worry - Kenneth's head is just fine)

9. Mike takes care of the "manly" things around the house. He feels that it is his responsibility to take care of things like mowing the yard and fixing things.

10. Mike is a fantastic artist. He really has a talent. He likes to draw things - he still has a picture he drew in high school - it is called vision master. I think he use to have a poster of it in his room .... or something like that. It is really cool.

11. Mike has a terrific sense of humor. Most people don't get to see this part of him because he is so shy. But once you get to know him, he is pretty hysterical. A great example (he won't like me sharing) was last night we were saying goodnight to Kenneth and Mike was wearing a halloween shirt that glows in the dark. It is a black shirt with a skeleton outline on it. Well, he charged it up with light so that it would glow really well and then we turned the lights of - he started dancing around and Kenneth and I were laughing so hard we coulnd't catch our breath....I know you had to be there to get the whole effect....

12. Mike has stuck with me through good and bad. And believe me - there have been both. I have never doubted his love for me. Some days we don't necessarily like each other very much, but we still love each other no matter what.

13. Mike is my eternal companion. Thirteen years ago today we knelt across an alter in the Idaho Falls temple and he agreed to be sealed to me for time and for all eternity...how lucky am I??????

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!