To The Girl Who Just Might Marry My Birthday-Boy Brother....

Happy Birthday, Uncle Michael!!!!

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TO THE GIRL WHO JUST MIGHT MARRY MY BROTHER...

I'll start at Michael's very beginning...

When I was nearly 5 years old, a cute little brown-haired, blue-eyed baby entered the world. I didn't realize it at the time, but this darn little boy was stealing from me the precious "youngest child" spot, and forcing me into the dreaded "middle child" seat. Good thing I didn't comprehend the certain doom that comes with being the middle child, cuz I sure loved that cute, smiley, crazy little brother. Yes...I adored the toddler who ate fertilizer, swung a shovel at the neighbor's cat, and transformed our house of dolls and barbies into a house of trains and trucks.

Michael was always a stubborn little stinker. He was the two-year old who refused to order anything off the kids' menu. And he hasn't changed much (although I'm pretty sure he doesn't torture animals anymore). He's still stubborn, still a stinker, still the spoiled youngest child, and still a cute little brown-haired, blue-eyed, loving, talented boy. So here are a few things you need to know...

1. Michael is stubborn...never one to conform. Just because YOU want to play with barbies doesn't mean HE wants to.
2. Michael has expensive taste. So what if the kids' menu is only $2 and enough food for his little stomach. He wants the $20 meal anyway.
3. Michael is NOT afraid to try new things. Find the craziest, grossest sounding menu item. He'll order it, and love it!
4. Michael loves to tease! When I was an exhausted High School student (barely surviving early morning seminary), Michael didn't understand the beauty of naps, and would make as much noise as he could to ruin my blissful slumber...just to get a monster-me reaction!
5. Michael (now) loves to sleep! Don't interrupt HIM while he's napping! (Although being a wife will sort of grant you the privilege...especially when kids come into the picture...WAKE UP, da**it!)
6. Michael will, however, give up sleep for fun. He's always up for a late night dip in the hot tub..."for the memory."
7. Michael remembers E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.
8. Michael is VERY supportive of his family.
9. Michael is a home-body. When his friends were out partying, he preferred staying home.
10. Michael is a crazy driver.
11. Michael is a good boy! I think I've only heard Michael swear ONCE in his life...it seriously sounded like a foreign language coming out of his mouth!
12. Michael loves music...and somehow finds the most random, crazy songs. And he knows all the words. And he'll sing them loudly in the bathroom when your kids are sleeping.
13. Michael has NEVER changed a diaper in his life.
14. Michael loves cooking. He learned to cook LOOOONG before I did.
15. Michael is very opinionated.
16. Michael is very honest.
17. Michael will always give you his (sometimes brutally) honest opinion. After listening to a performance of my singing group at Christmas-time, he said, "You guys blended really well. That says a lot, because Robyn is sometimes really good at NOT blending."
18. Michael is a friend of the friendless.
19. Michael only wrote me ONE letter my entire mission. (I'm still a bit bitter).
20. Luckily he's made up for it with lots of phone calls and visits in the two years he's been home. He's VERY thoughtful!
21. Michael will be a dog owner someday.
22. Kids love him.
23. Old ladies love him.
24. Michael will treat you like a princess!

There's more...much more...but I'll leave it at 24 (since it IS Michael's 24th B-day). Later I'll tell you about being chased down the hall, fighting, punching holes in the bedroom doors, turtle funerals, and stuffed animals named "Brownie." But I have to say...he's a pretty dang good catch. One that I've been happy to be the "middle child" because of! Can't wait to find out what happens next! Oh the suspense! Good luck! And Happy Birthday, Miguelito!

Love,

Robyn

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIGUELITO!!!!!!!

My cute little brother is 23-years old today! I was fortunate enough to be the middle child of the family, so I was the closest in age to both siblings. This meant that I got to fight with BOTH of them (and of course they ganged up on me...) One time Michael got so mad at me that he broke the sliding glass door at our house when I ran outside. Ouch. Somehow we survived and have a great relationship. Sometimes I still treat Michael like the little brother, but he has really turned into a great guy. Here are some of the things I love most about him...1. Michael is very honest (sometimes brutally honest). If I ask him his opinion, he gives it to me! He got home from his mission a few months after Kimberly and I had babies. At the airport I asked him if we looked fatter...he said "yes." We were wearing "I love Michael" shirts. Thanks bro! 2. Michael loves taking naps! When I was in High School, I lived for naps. He used to come home and make as much noise as he possibly could while I was sleeping. Once he entered the early-morning-seminary era, he understood. Now he can sleep anytime, anywhere (next to anyone...)

3. Michael is a great dresser. He has expensive taste and a real knack for fashion . His brothers-in-law may be older, but they use Michael as an example of what to wear. Joe and Michael had a great time as twins at Legoland last summer! 4. Michael has never minded being the "third wheel" with family. He loves doing things just for the memory! He convinced me to go hot-tubbing when I really just wanted to go to bed "for the memory". Michael really does remember EVERYTHING!
5. Michael loves wearing sunglasses...especially the big, dorky kind. Actually, these ones are pretty cool. Once again, Michael has GREAT taste!

6. Michael likes taking self-portraits and other random funny pictures.
7. Michael is a great uncle! His nieces and nephews adore him. Everyday Parker has a list of people he goes through SEVERAL times. He says their names and I tell him where they are. Michael is usually first on the list. Parker will be playing and will randomly say, "Michael?" I love that he loves him!

8. Michael is VERY supportive of friends and family. He recently drove alone to California for the funeral of a good family friend, Gwyn Carr. He was Avery's first hospital visitor.

9. Michael has always been good friends with my friends. When I went on my mission, he called my roommate Aubrey for help with his Spanish homework. They still occasionally chat!

10. Michael is very generous! When he was in Kindergarten, he found one of my mom's diamond rings and gave it to his "girlfriend." When my mom discovered this, she called the girl's mom...it was nowhere to be found. Michael loves finding the perfect gifts for birthdays, Christmas, etc.

11. Michael has a great sense of humor and is very understanding! He doesn't get mad at me for being an annoying (at times) mom. He was recently in the bathroom at my house while Parker was napping. I heard him singing (he has a great voice) in the bathroom and went and said "shhhhhhh" really loudly outside the bathroom door. He stopped singing and came out rolling his eyes. He handles things well...someday he'll understand!

There is SO MUCH MORE I could say about my brother. I love that he visits me regularly. He'll make some girl very happy someday! Happy Birthday, Michael. WE LOVE YOU!