OOOH....The Birthday Girl!! The Birthday Girl!!

For those of you that don't know, today is Erika's birthday! It was so nice to receive a birthday post from her, that I thought I would attempt to return the favor. So, here are a few reasons why the boys and I love Erika (in no particular order):

1. She is a lot of fun! Just ask the boys. In this family, Mom is the party animal. Whether it's clapping and cheering (or crying) to an episode of "So, You Think You Can Dance," dancing the Nutcracker in the kitchen, or building the "Ultimate Fort" for story time, Erika keeps our house entertained. She also has a real knack for coming up with fun activities for the family. If it were up to me, we would be a VERY boring bunch.

2. She is a sweetheart. She has a soft spot in her heart as big as Norway. When it comes to animals, loved ones, and especially our children, Erika's heart melts at about 50 degrees. It certainly doesn't take much. I love this about her because it's so easy to see how much she really cares about our family.




3. She is a do-er. For any of you that know me, I would be like the "bizarro" version of Erika in this respect. I never get anything finished, or sometimes even started. Obviously, this is a constant problem for someone like Erika to live with. Nevertheless, she has remained a consistent do-er, and that means a lot for our family. If something needs getting done, she does it, and finishes it as quickly as possible. It doesn't matter what. If not for her, we would probably be living in shambles!

4. She is a great cook. Erika has always been a great cook. I think it is something that just comes naturally to her. Thankfully, her undying devotion to the Food Network has helped develop this talent. I can never remember her failing at a recipe, and many times she has simply "thrown something together" from stuff around the house that you would have to pay top dollar for in a restaurant. This is definitely something I appreciate more than the boys do at this stage of their lives, but that just means more for me.





5. She is artistic. For as long as I have known her, Erika has been into some form of artistic expression: interior design, photography, scrapbooking, needlework. Needless to say, she is always good at them, and has always been determined enough to really develop them. It makes her such a well-rounded person. We joke that the reason she has to develop these skills is that she can never find something that is already made the way she likes it. Whatever the reason, she is a great example to our boys of developing your talents.

6. She is a healer. Okay, this may sound a little cheesy, but it's totally true. Not only as a physical therapist, but as a Mom. I can't tell you how many times Erika has made my aches and pains go away, or how many times we have run into a former patient that is so glad to see her and let her know how much she helped them and how well they are doing. For the kids, Erika has an amazing ability to be able to defuse a situation. She knows just how to get one of the boys to settle down. If we are experiencing a child "meltdown," it usually only takes Erika a few minutes to come back with a dry face, a smile, and hugs all around. The boys really know who can make them feel better!

7. Erika hates the phone. Maybe "hate" is a strong word, but it's not too far off. She does not like to answer the phone. She can talk on it, but doesn't really like to unless it's the only way to communicate with someone, and even then...We have all tried to find out where this comes from, but no one really knows. So, if you are calling our house and happen to be parked out front and the garage door is open, the car is in it, and Haydn is playing in the front yard and yet, no one answers, now you know why. The good news: Erika is a religious message checker. However, this doesn't mean she will actually get on the phone to call you back.




8. She is the best "best friend." Erika is a great friend. She is thoughtful, caring, and fiercely loyal. I have never seen a more perfect example of true friendship.

9. She loves sappy TV shows. Some of her favorites are "Beverly Hills, 90210," and "The Andy Griffith Show." She's even been known to watch "Leave it to Beaver" when the opportunity presents itself. This is probably due to #6.

10. She loves her family. Honestly, there is no doubt Erika would rather spend time with us than do anything else in the world. And that means a lot.