Today is James' Birthday! He has been so busy this week finishing up projects and presentations, that we will be celebrating for the most part tomorrow. But being busy can't stop us from celebrating him on this blog today! So Happy Birthday James! Here is 25 reasons I LOVE James! (In no particular order).
1. James is a FANTASTIC father to our two girls. He can never get home fast enough to play with them and help take care of them.
2. James reads and studies his scriptures faithfully EVERYDAY. He is a good example to me and our family.
3. James is a diligent home teacher. He never seems to have a really consistent companion but he prays for his families and visits his families every month. Usually the last week of the month, but he always jokes, "At least I'm consistent."
4. James has a special place in his heart for any person with special needs. This is probably one of my most favorite things about him. He wants to make their lives better. Which is why he is going to make a great Occupational Therapist.
5. When James was young he had aspirations to be an Olympic Runner. (I don't think it lasted very long, but I still love that about him).
6. James did theater when he was in High School. He was most often cast as the Villain or Antagonist of all the plays that he was in. Including Chuck Cranston in Footloose.
7. James has a really great singing voice.
8. James can always make me smile, even when I don't want to. It's a gift, really.
9. James gets up with Molly almost every night to give her, her bottle.
10. James is thrifty and likes to budget but if its books or learning toys for the kids.... he's a sucker.
11. James wants to be an OT so that he can get paid to play all day.
12. James cooks better Chicken Parmesan than I do. And he uses the recipe that I made up, from my blog.
13. James is a member of Pi Theta Epsilon. (That's a bit of an inside joke, but he will laugh).
14. James only exercises once a week, when he plays basketball with his Elder's Quorum but has not gained or lost a pound in the 3 years we have been married.
15. James can do really cool tricks with a jump rope. I literally swooned the first time I saw him perform.
16. James is also a really good on roller blades. Although we haven't pulled them out since before we were married.
17. James loves his mother. My favorite thing to do on Sundays is listen to him talk to his parents.
18. James can make anything out of cardboard. And believe me he has tried. He will not let me throw away boxes because he knows he can find some use for them in the future.
19. James writes me poems. Need I say more.
20. James cleaned the kitchen last night, and I went to bed.
21. James is passionate about his church calling. He is constantly trying to improve his time working with a 10 year old boy who has autism.
22. James loves to play games with Lucy. It is her favorite thing right now. They play
Yahtzee, Connect Four, Pitureka, Marbles, Dominos, Memory, Elefun, and occasionally others that they make up. Lucy's one on one time is always well spent.
23. James tells me he loves me daily if not more. And I know he means it.
24. James is very forgiving of my crazy mood swings. I could not thank him enough for this. Because I am embarrassed sometimes by the way I can turn on the waterworks when I am a little "overtired."
25. And We love James because he is the best husband, and father the three of us girls could EVER ask for. Thank you so much for you love and devotion to us. Happy Birthday James.
PS. We could probably write a million more reasons why we love you.
Sunday evening we spent the day lounging around the house, helping Grandpa water the garden and playing a few games. It was a lovely evening, but lead to an awful night. For some reason neither Lucy or Molly cared to sleep Sunday night. This turned Monday into a bit of a recovery day for James and I. I think we spent 75% of the day in PJ's and making sure the girls got good naps so they would sleep better the next night. James and I did get out and join Craig for his Arthritis Aquatics class. Basically it was a water aerobics class for "older people." We had fun though. It made me feel very young if nothing else.
Tuesday we headed down to Deming to see a few of friends from my mission. I like to let the Baca's know we are coming because they are always willing to put on a feast that never disappoints. President Baca decided he wanted to cook for us this time. Oh my goodness it was good. I love real home-cooked Mexican food. I took some home and ate it the rest of the week. I could go on and on about how much I love beans, rice and corn tortillas. I really could live off of those three things alone and be happy. I'm done. 
Deming does not only hold a special place in my heart because of my mission, but also because it was where James and I had our first date and really where we fell in love, as cheesy as it sounds. When I first traveled down there four years ago, I thought it was just a joy trip to see a few of my favorite people before I got too busy with graduate school, to do anything else. I had no idea that that trip would change my life forever. It's such a good story that never gets old. I never tire of telling it and I never tire of listening to James tell it. (I'll spare you all for now). 
*Wednesday we went to the Discovery Children's Museum with our friends the Pope's. Then we spent the rest of the day pulling off the greatest (not really) birthday surprise ever! It was actually pretty simple but it was a lot of work for one Mom lugging around two kids. We picked up some cookies, balloons and I made a birthday poster that we dropped off at one James' classmates house the night before. They had it all set up when James walked into class the next morning. It was the greatest because he thought it was going to be just another day and we would celebrate later. I had different plans. I wanted him to feel special on his actual birthday. The girls and I decorated the house when he left that morning, so he came home to yet another birthday poster, balloons, presents, and his birthday cake which I made that morning while he was in class. He also rode his bike to school, that I got all fixed up for him so he wouldn't have to walk in the heat any more and he said it was the best birthday present he received. Lucy gave him The Muppet Show season one and a Michael Buble CD. I also got him a new towel embroidered with his name. It sounds lame but he really needed a new towel. We ate PF Chang's lettuce wraps (new recipe I tried out, SO GOOD! Check it out here) and carrot cake for dinner.
*Friday and Saturday were pretty much spent working on James' final project for school that is due this week. He has to build an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. I'll write more about that later when it is all done. And that is a rough quick summary of our week, but a summary none the less.
Today is James' Birthday! He has been so busy this week finishing up projects and presentations, that we will be celebrating for the most part tomorrow. But being busy can't stop us from celebrating him on this blog today! So Happy Birthday James! Here is 25 reasons I LOVE James! (In no particular order).
4. James has a special place in his heart for any person with special needs. This is probably one of my most favorite things about him. He wants to make their lives better. Which is why he is going to make a great Occupational Therapist. 
14. James only exercises once a week, when he plays basketball with his Elder's Quorum but has not gained or lost a pound in the 3 years we have been married. 
22. James loves to play games with Lucy. It is her favorite thing right now. They play Yahtzee, Connect Four, Pitureka, Marbles, Dominos, Memory, Elefun, and occasionally others that they make up. Lucy's one on one time is always well spent.