Birthday Tributes

Baby Brother By: Jax
Today my baby brother turned 19. He is an amazing person. He is a hard worker and has great determination. He is very focused and knows how to get things done (the things he wants to get done). He is an amazing uncle. Jake always wants to go to Kev's house. He is always willing to help with babysitting or just being with his neices and nephews. He is very caring and understanding. I know in a few months he will be a great missionary too. I love him so much and know that he is going to acheive great things in life because of his determination and positive outlook.Love you Kev!!

19 Years By: Jill
On this day 19 years ago my mom checked into the hospital in Salt Lake City (refusing to stay in Rexburg, where we lived) and gave birth a baby brother. I remember very little about that day, except that my dad came and picked me and Jen up at Adams Elementary (Go Eagles!), and we got out of school early, which I was excited about. My first memory of Kevin as a baby is when we were in Hawaii, he was 6 months old. He was really sick, but whenever we turned on music he would dance around on his bum. He would just bump up and down and it was the cutest thing. I remember being obsessed with holding him. Whenever Mom would let me I loved to hold him, and when he switched to bottles I loved to feed him. Of course, with four older sisters he had no shortage of women who wanted to snuggle him. I remember he had this awesome bottle that I am sure my dad was very proud of. It looked like this:(Okay I was going to put a picture in, but after 20 minutes I couldn't find any football shaped baby bottles)Anyway, that baby has grown up to be the best brother someone could ask for. He is kind and sweet. He is a great listener, and at least with me he is good at talking on the phone. He is my favorite sibling. (Sorry guys, but Kevin called me first on my birthday - When most of the rest of you forgot - he won this year.) I can't believe what a great man he is becoming. And I really can't believe that this summer he will leave on his mission. I remember when we used to talk about him leaving and there was 12 years left to wait...Two years ago Kevin had a really bad health scare. Jeremy would always tell me not to worry, that everything would be okay, but I would at times just cry and cry and say "but what if he doesn't get better." Thankfully he has fully recovered, but I know now why I was so upset - because I can't imagine life without him. I love you kid. Happy Birthday.

Baby Bro- By: Jen
Kevin turned 19 yesterday and Jill wrote a moving tribute~ I loved it so here is one of my own. Not as eloquent as hers- but still a tribute.19 years ago my little brother was born. I was only six but I too remember walking out of good old Adams elementary. I think I was wearing my purple puffy coat. I remember looking at mom laying the hospital thinking I don't ever want to do that. Everyone was so excited though because Dad FINALLY got his boy.Kevin had no chance of being a "normal" boy with four older sisters. His favorite song when he was about 5 was Shania Twain's "Man, I feel like a woman!" Along with the Lion King soundtrack- especially I just can't wait to be king. We couldn't get all the boy out of him though because he definitely had a TON of energy and loved to fight! He would be in the tub and we would say do tough guy and he would grit his teeth and put his arms up and flex them. It was so cute! He had the chubbiest cheeks with bright blue eyes and blonde hair.He always wanted to come and play with me and my friends- which I hated at first but then really started to like him coming along. I had watched my older sisters protect me and lift me up and I felt like I could do that for Kev. I especially loved it when he came and played basketball at the college with me and everyone thought he was to little to play so I said he could be on my team and then he showed them up (and still does).I have always been proud of him as my little brother but I am more so now than ever before. As basketball player, he has become better than I ever imagined him being, but more importantly, I am proud of the person he has become. Landen said just a few days ago, "wow kevin has really grown up!" I completely agree (well, except for when he tries to tackle me, then I realize he is still just a little kid). I am excited for him to go on his mission and show the world the gospel. He will be great wherever he goes.I know I haven't always taught him the right things by my example, but I hope he knows how much I love him and how proud I am of him. I know he will make the right choices in his life because he has learned the right principles.Love you Kev.ps. The playlist is Kev's. I had papercut on there but couldn't justify it... the whole good example thing.