Happy Birthday Autumn!

Happy 28th Birthday Autumn!This is my sister Autumn, she's the fourth kid, I'm the fifth, and we're like 20 months apart or something, so I've been lucky to share a lot of my life with her.

This is her husband Jake, he likes to sleep:). Actually, he can just fall asleep anywhere and as you can sort of tell from this picture, one of the funnest things about Autumn is how she always seems amused by her husband, they crack each other up.

A very distinct trademark face of Autumn, she pulls this whenever she sees something so so clearly and can't understand why on earth someone would think otherwise, she's trying to process it here.
She's always great about keeping in touch and always cares about the kids having fun and learning, she's holding up the phone for Heber to talk to someone. She's also always laughing at something one of the kids says and we laugh in part because of what they say too, but sometimes more at how funny Autumn thinks it is or just how funny she is!

I took this series of pics when Autumn was visiting BYU for my briday shower and she and Jill were being pretty funny, but they didn't seem to know it. I told them they looked like a couple all snuggled up like that so then they just bust up.

Autumn ALWAYS has wheels turning in her head about some great idea. This time it was that she wanted to do "The Amazing Race" the first season it was for families, so she invited us to try it out with her, so my sister Jill and I joined her and Jake in applying.

Whoever didn't get us on that show doesn't know what they missed, she would have been an unforgettable competitor! This was not an easy application to do, it took forever, but that's the way Autumn is, she doesn't let things stop her from trying. She recently invented this little thing (more on her blog) and had it patented, also not an easy process.

Autumn is also an aspiring photographer. We'd been trying for a long time to line up professional pictures and after falling through several times, we asked her to take some for us and she did a superb job--seriously, great great job! And all but one of the subjects were not interested in taking pictures that day (not saying who of course...), and she still managed to get some great shots. Here's one of my favorites.

A little tradition we do occasionally in my family (then is it really a tradition? Hm) is to write one thing we love about them for each year. So here is a little tribute to Autumn, but this won't be nearly adequate, I just want to get it done before her bday is over!

A few things I love about Autumn:

1. 1. Autumn is unforgettable, in so many wonderful, hysterical, entertaining and thoughtful ways
2. Autumn doesn't forget things either, she has an incredible memory for things that matter. What's so great about remembering dumb things from algebra or chemistry? Autumn remembers the important things, like everyone's birthdays, what you did on your anniversary from years ago (not her own), who and what you liked in high school, different decorating styles, she'll remember tons about you, and very specific conversations.
3. She's the most thoughtful person I know, I guess because she doesn't just think about things, she acts on them
4. She is ambitious, seriously, this girl has had cancer and has been all drugged up and she still managed to get way more done than I ever would in her days
5. But she's not the bad "cut throat" ambitious, she's just really driven. If she wants something, she'll do it. She trained for a marathon once and ran 20 miles. After, she went to the Dr. to find she had fractures in her foot and was strongly encouraged to stop running asap. She was so mad that she sad she would have just run 26.2 during her run had she known she'd have to stop, and she would have.
6. If my sisters and I need information of any kind about another family member, my guess is that we'd all go to her first, she's incredibly organized...and particular, which is just funny in most cases.
7. She's generous, way way way more than I would be. She's let so many people live with them and opened their doors at all hours to people in need. I have a small headache starting just thinking of her adventures through that.
8. She might be generous, but she also doesn't let people walk all over her or take advantage of her. She's got this great balance of being helpful but teaching people at the same time to take care of themselves.
9. She'll speak her mind and she makes a lot of sense--at least I think so. Through both of us blogging, I've realized how similar we are in so many ways (even though I sort of knew that, it's so validating!).
10. Autumn is articulate and well thought out. She doesn't just have opinions on things without a reason (most of the time:), she studies things out.
11. She's informed, she is always learning, and not in one area, her interests are broad and varied. She's be the perfect dinner guest with just about any group. Nobody intimidates her, but not in an arrogant way, she just genuinely sees people as people and I think she sees everyone as a potential conversation or learning experience.
12. She's one of the funnest people to be around for the above reason, she'll shout out funny things to people and do crazy things.
13. She laughs easily.
14. And sometimes it's at people, but all in good fun because you know you're laughing inside at the same things if not out loud, but not cruely either. She just sees humor in the mundane and I LOVE that! She'll laugh with you if you see someone trip or do something embarassing, but again, not because she's being mean, but because she truly can't contain herself (I'm with her here).
15. She's unscripted and never fake, she's genuine. While she's totally fun and can be the life of the party, she doesn't have to be at all. She's sweet, kind, thoughtful, and she really cares about people.
16. She really really cares about people. She aches over people and the sad things in their lives, hence the helping so many people thing.
17. She had cancer and she found reasons to laugh, like all the funny things she could do while she was on radiation like set off alarms.
18. She looked out for me in school. She was a lot to live up to, she didn't seemed phased by all the chaos that high school brings to the adolescent soul, she was confident and fun and friends with everyone. I think people secretly envied that about her and possibly confused them.
19. Which brings me to her always being more mature than her age. She was always counted on and RELIABLE. Oh I LOVE THAT ABOUT AUTUMN! RELIABLE. Is that a lost gem in society?
20. Responsible. She doesn't pass the blame.
21. She loves to dance and she's good at it.
22. HARD WORKER. HARD HARD WORKER.
23. Great sense of style. She and Jake flipped their home from a run-down foreclosure to a Martha Stewart/Pottery Barn home--gorgeous. VISION. She sees possibilities.
24. CREATIVE. Soo soo creative. Food, crafts, sewing, home projects, anything. This girl will make anything more interesting, such a great creative mind.
25. She played My Little Ponies with me when we were little and all I really remember is that she was my best friend.
26. Spiritual, religious, and committed.
27. Incredible listener and will validate your feelings.
28. Ah, the 28th thing should be significant, but I can't think of just one more thing. I guess it's just that Autumn is significant. She'll be your best friend, a great example, and someone you'll want to have around to keep things interesting. She'll make you feel special too. She won't ever bore you and she'll inspire you.

I LOVE YOU AUTUMN! Happy Birthday! Love, Afton