Happy Birthday Aaron

Birthdays were a big deal in our house when we were growing up. My mom would convert our dining room to an in-home birthday party while we were at school. She would blow up balloons, string streamers, set the table with a special tablecloth. She would pull out the cardboard Happy Birthday letters that she had covered in foil and hang them up above a wall of pictures from our birth to present. Our meal of choice would be lovingly prepared and our favorite dessert (usually cake) would be decorated lavishly with icing, writing and doo-dads. Of course presents were always a part of the occasion as well but they were never the center of it. It was always about "you". There would be stories of when "you" were born, when "you" were little, what "you" had done or said funny. The whole atmosphere created on those days not only made our birthday so much fun, it made us feel like the favorite kid for a day. I can honestly say my mom loves celebrating birthdays more than she likes Christmas!

Aaron's favorite dessert was pie. We always knew that we could bet on pie for dessert when it was January 9th. But true to mother's celebratory style, the pies would be accessorized as well. I remember one specific birthday when Aaron had been talking about getting a 4 wheeler. (The kid always loved motorcycles). When the pie was served, there sat a miniature 4 wheeler sunken into the moist pumpkin leaving behind very visible tracks all over the top of the pie. How cool!

So today we miss you even more, Aaron, because you aren't here for us to tell you how much we love you & how special you are to each of us. And you aren't here to enjoy the pie with us. Oh, and by the way, we all know you are the favorite!

Your baby sister