Andy the big brother!

This past weekend I took the kids to Kennewick for the weekend, we left Saturday morning and came home Monday afternoon. Our main goal of the trip was to celebrate my brother's 40th birthday. My sister n law threw a great party and invited a lot of people. She had Andy's favorite foods there, and Andy made a disc of his favorite music. We ate, and chatted, and the kids ran around crazy, it was great. In preparing for the party my sister n law sent out invites, (I made the invites, that was fun) and let those who wanted to, or couldn't attend send stories of there memories of Andy. I wrote one up, and I really can't believe that even though I am fully aware that I am aging, that he is 40, and my parents will retire soon. Life moves too fast! So, here, hopefully this won't be embarrasing to anyone but me, but I wanted to share it with the family and friends that frequent this blog, because that is just how much I love my one and only brother. 

My girls enjoying the many adventures of grandma's house... playing polly pockets! 

the sibbling holding there youngest child... (sorry for those of you who didn't want this picture posted on my blog... yell at me later! 

Andy unwrapping his loot! 

Ezra took a big liking to his grandpa and was content to sit with him as long as possible! When I uploaded this picture, Ezra saw it and said "Grandpa" so cute! He Exclaimed it! 

I made the birthday sign in the back, and the labels for the food. We had Dorritos, ham and cheese rolls, carrots, cupcakes, and candy! It was successful! 

Andy Pandy Bo Jim Dandy

What I remember about Andy growing up: Sara his 3^rd sister.

Andy is 40 and I am 32, and so that makes him 7 1/2 years older than me. I am one of his 4 sisters and always wished I had more brothers closer to my age but I am glad that Andy was my only brother because he taught me to have fun. He taught me not to be scared and to be adventurous.

One of my first memories of Andy was when I was 5. I had to go to a babysitter and when Andy would get done with school he would ride over on his bike and pick me up. I remember being so scared the first time he had me ride on his handlebars, but after that first time I wasn't scared anymore and it was so fun. It was harder to get off than on, but I knew Andy wouldn't let me get hurt intentionally and I trusted him to keep me safe. He was protective not in a bully kind of way but in a brother kind of way.

Another one of my young memories was when we went to Grandma McClellan's house for holiday or something and I was sick, I think I had an ear infection or something. The whole family was going out to see a movie I want to say either Indiana Jones or Star Wars but I could be way off, but Andy had to stay at Grandma's with me. We had brought a huge tub of Costco licorice to grandmas and it had red and black vines in it. Andy ate the black I ate the red. And grandma had these cool bar stools that spun, but we were never aloud to spin but no one else was home and so we did it, and we got so sick. It was a great night and I think Andy wished he could have gone to the movie but he didn't act like it. He had fun with me, and got my mind off being sick.

When I was in middle school we went to Silver Wood for the first time and me and Andy went on the little zipper, and or something like that and it was these cages that spun around. Andy talked me into going on them with him, and I was so scared to go on a ride that went upside down, but he could always talk me into that kind of thing. Once we were in the ride he brought up the movie Goonies and we talked about Chunk and his fake puking scene and so as our cage started spinning in circles we pretended like we were puking. He got me laughing so much that I forgot to be scared. We got some stares but it was so fun. After that I never was afraid to go on upside down rides, and it was of course always better to go on any ride with Andy.

My other memories are how Andy loves to play games, and so I am really glad he married a gamer as well. At family reunions he would always have the cards to play a game, we played some great ones and had fun teasing the cousins that played the games with us. I knew that if I ever wanted to play a game Andy would play it with me. And I remember how much Andy loves candy... lemon heads, runts, gobstoppers, we would go on family trips and he would always buy those candies and eat them, and I started getting them too because I wanted to be like my brother. I like how the relationship we have is different from each sister. He taught me how to drive and started taking me to single adult activities once I graduated. He danced with me at my wedding the traditional spinning around in circles dance that I remember as well from growing up. He always knew how to have fun and to make a boring situation fun. I am glad he is my brother. I've always admired how smart he is and how he had to leave all his friends in Bosie when we moved to Kennewick. How he would always take me and Torrie somewhere fun when he had to watch us, either to the train store or once he took us to Palouse Falls, and introduced us to his music... “They Might Be Giants”. I love how even though his family keeps him busy he always has helped me move, and comes to visit us now we live in a different place. I know that no matter what he will always be there for me... thanks Andy! And even though he calls me names like Chewsacca, Saboski, and Sabodaboo I will always love him and be happy that he is my big and only brother.