HApPy BiRtHDay GEoF. GEOrGe

For years on their birthdays I would relate to the kids their birth stories. I will here relate Geof.'s FAVORITE PART....

"It's a BOY!" O MY WORD!!! We knew it was a boy because the second he cleared the womb, while he was suspended upside down, by one foot, in mid air he started to hose down the entire room!!! Dr. Naisbitt quickly handed him off to the nurse. Geof. got the nurse too. She wrapped him up, thinking he was done and handed him to Ellery. Ellery snuggled him for a minute or two before letting me hold him. Apparently Geof. wasn't done as El looks down at the big wet spot on the surgical gown they used to have you wear in the delivery room. At that same moment I am experiencing a warm, wet sensation spreading across my chest. Yes, Yes , he got us all including the next nurse that took him to be weighed and measured. Geof. weighed in at 7 lbs. 10 oz. minus at least 16 oz. of additional fluid used to leave his mark!

Stories: Geof. has a tenacity that is amazing! One time Adam had Geof. pinned and was letting his spit drool out within inches of Geof.'s face. It was getting closer each time before Adam would slurp it back up. (Make a mental note here; boys are gross and Adam, in spite of what Mindi thinks hasn't always been perfect). Geof. yells, "I can spit up as far as you can spit down!"

Cousin Lowell came to visit us when we lived in Issaquah and G'pa Bennett was in the hospital. We came home one time to find out Lowell had hung Geof. upside down by one ankle over the 2nd story landing trying to get him to say "Uncle." Geof. wouldn't do it. There were tears coming out of his eyes and rolling down his forehead, but he wouldn't give in. Thankfully Lowell got tired of the game and let him go before he dropped him.

Geof. loves to read. I convinced him one time that he needed to read Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. He was not very enthused but did it. When he finished the book he said, "Mom, Mark Twain really knew what boys liked!"

He loves the scriptures. One year while I was at camp he read the entire Book of Ether to Ellynn, Brind and Brind's friend, Donald out on the tramp. Brind and Donald spent the rest of the summer acting out the destruction of the Jaredite nation!

In high school he lettered in cross country, wrestling and track all in one year. They wrote him up in the school paper as the Stormin Mormon! He tried so hard to be an example all the time.

He graduated from college Cum Laude in the demanding field of Aviation while working 3 jobs, with 2 kids and one on the way. Currently he is a home appraiser...yet another successful career. He and Darla are the quintessential hosts for a visit on the East coast. So Fun and truely wonderful!!!

He continues to show that same tenacity in every aspect of his life which is a good thing since he has his own Huckleberry Finn/Tom Sawyer, Minni Me Darla (all the independence and not quite the good judgement her mom has yet) and the Future Opera Diva to raise.

You continue to leave your Mark on the world Geoffrey George and I mean that in the best way possible. You are an AMaZinG MaN and we are all blessed to have you in our lives!!!

Love You,
MOM