Happy Birthday Papa Ray!

If I'm counting backwards correctly, this would be your "53rd" birthday (or thereabouts). I have your birthday present all ready to go, all 27-wiggly-curly-tailed-pounds of her. She says she misses staying at your house. Did I mention it's thundering out here?

Growing up, I had no idea how much you did for us. Mowing the lawn, keeping the yard in order and building stuff for us - including a playhouse. It seemed effortless on your part. Now that I'm grown up and have a family of my own, I realize it's anything but effortless! It takes a lot of time and energy to keep up on things like yardwork (and the wishes of some demanding grandkids).

I remember going on trips in the big truck with you and talking your ear off, though probably not as bad as Dustin did. Hee! I remember sneaking cups of coffee out of your thermos because Gramma wouldn't let me have any in the house. Sorry Gramma, I was still getting that coffee! So much for it stunting my growth though.

Playing in the shop was a huge treat since it was mostly forbidden. Getting in trouble for watching the welding arc was fairly traumatizing though! And I'm very sorry for breaking all those welding rods too.

Growing up with you, we were able to do so much more than kids normally do. We were exposed to so much more - motor vehicles, horses, being safe around the dugout/lagoon, grass fires and countless others. I'm sorry we scared you when riding the little trike - enough that you took it back and got a little four wheeler instead! We had so much fun on that bike. Summer days were the best when you were around to supervise us since the ladies weren't too keen on it.

Summer also brought camping, and I'm very glad we got to go with you and Gramma on a few trips. I look back with the fondest memories of camping by the creek and playing in the mud. And being too scared to sleep under the window in the camper in case a bear looked in. I couldn't admit it to Gramma, but you knew what my problem was. I didn't have to sleep under the window after all, so thank you for that!

When I got all growed up, I followed along the same path that you did, working for the same company and with a lot of the same people. It was a great experience working in the same plant sites with the same people as my Dad and Grampa did before me. They had a lot of expectations of me based on who my dad and grandfather were, and I hope I lived up to their expectations and both of your high standards.

Thank you for the advice you've given me over the years. Thank you for looking after Bailey so much, I know she's a handful. Especially that burying of the toast in your bed and such behavior. For some reason we still love her, even if she is a huge pain. Thank you for kicking her in the bum when she tries to take food from Cailin. That is hilarious.

Speaking of which: just when you thought it was time to kick back and relax, the next batch of grandkids comes along with their demands! Thank you so much for building Cailin's playhouse, it just simply would not have gotten done if you weren't there.

We thought a lot about you on your birthday. I wish we could have been there to help celebrate and eat a bunch of your cake!