Happy Birthday Matthew!

Today is my big brother, Matthew's birthday. Matt is such a great guy. (I don't call him Matt, but most people do.) He's only 19 months older than me, but it's always been a running joke that he is usually about twice my size. It was pretty funny there for a while; when I weighed 90 (as a painfully skinny teenager), he was 180, and it went on like that for a long time. Matthew is a super-fun, active dad to his three little ones, a loving husband to his delightful Katie, a creative business man who started his own successful graphic design firm in the OC, and an all-around great guy. I have lots of great memories with my brother, like playing make-shift baseball games in the backyard, and him calling out the score and who was on base, or riding to early-morning seminary in "Annie," his big, huge green convertible, with the top down (brrr), listening to music really loud on the boombox on the front seat. I had several friends in high school, who I knew, even at the time, were only my friends so that they could have a chance to become Matthew's girlfriend. He's the kind of brother that makes you feel appreciated and safe, and I love him for that.
I've looked up to Matthew for so many years. He is caring beyond belief, tender and strong all at the same time. He is a rock during times of crisis, and definitely knows how to have fun. I love you, Matthew!

Happy Birthday!

You can see some of Matt's awesome graphic design work here, his surfboard designs here (in case you're in the market), and his adorable family here.

Matt and me in Bermuda, August 1997

Matt, Katie, and little Annie, in Sundance, Summer 2002