Jack's Birthday

Jack turned the BIG 3-0 this year!  He had to work from 4-midnight that day, and chose to spend the morning with the family: eating cake for breakfast and playing at McDonald's for lunch.

The day after his birthday was actually an even better day for him.  His program coordinator realized that legally he hadn't taken off enough hours between shifts, so she gave him the day off.  Then he found out that he won $500 in a resident essay competition!  So we got to celebrate even more.  And we also got someone to watch the kids while we went out to dinner to celebrate another night.

In honor of his 30th, here are 30 reasons why I love Jack:

1) He genuinely cares about others, which makes for great bedside manner (just ask his patients who shower him with gifts of cookies and chocolates)
2) His greatest goal in life is to be a good dad
3) He takes little moments to teach our kids things, like counting to 100 or a Gospel principle
4) His friendly demeanor
5) His dark curly hair
6) The way his emotions are always displayed on his face, you never have to wonder what he's thinking!  People (including Hannah and myself) are constantly asking, "Why are you smiling?"
7) His incredible amount of patience, especially with me and the kids
8) The way he stays in touch with old friends
9) His commitment to living the Gospel
10) His ability to be silly and take a joke
11) He is fun to talk to, we stay up way too late talking sometimes
12) He watches the shows I want to watch, even if he doesn't like them (or claims he doesn't like them)
13) The way he sincerely compliments me
14) His funny hand-drawn cards he makes for me on special occasions
15) He always looks to serve others
16) The endearing way his misuses colloquialisms
17) The loving way he puts the kids to bed each night
18) He never, ever leaves the seat up
19) He is encouraging
20) He always finds us good music to listen to
21) His love of documentaries
22) He is humble
23) He talks in his sleep, usually it consists of him bolting upright in bed and asking me about his patients
24) His signature drawing: a Santa Claus face
25) His dream for our future and the hard work he puts in so that we can achieve it one day
26) His immense respect for what I do as a mother
27) He rarely gets angry
28) He is never belittling or mean
29) He is quick to apologize, even when it isn't necessary
30) We always have fun when we're together

Sorry if this list embarrasses you babe, but I love you and I'm sure glad you were born.