Bill's Bday and Decorating the tree :)

Bill, Bill, Bill...

Man I miss this kid (sad, right? we're only on day 4 of ...TOO MANY).

Great pic of Bill and mom :)

I cannot believe this boy is 19. I remember him being just...3 or 4, like it was yesterday. As far as the line and order of us kids goes, obviously I have no memory of life before Clayt (having only been 15 months old when he came along), but because there was such a big age-gap between Clayt and Bill, we (Celeste and I) treated Bill like our baby doll....rubbing his eyes to put him to sleep, helping him clean his room, doing his homework, etc., so that he didn't get into any trouble, or just because we wanted to help our baby-Bill... Yeah. Bill is/was definitely favored for whatever reason... He's got the most cheery disposition, good nature and positive attitude out of any of us 7 kids, and his infectious smile and warming, comforting, protective presence is going to be missed over these next two years like I can't even imagine....

When he was little (I know, being 6'4" now, it's hard to imagine him ever being 'little'), he used to call himself "Good Boy," and was never without a pacifier and silk pillowcase (...or similar item :P). I loved that he was way cuddly, especially when Jess came along, she was just a colicky little piece'a crap (Love you Jess), and Spence was so...stoic (never smiled, so tiny and fragile...), but Bill was happy and huggy and suggly and...everything you want a little sibling to be.

Oooh I miss him so much...

As he got older, and even until the day he left for his mission, he was never shy about..."sharin' and spreadin' the love"....Whenever he walked in the house (tho' at times it may have been obnoxious and annoying...), he'd run around tackling everyone with these enoromous bear-hugs (squeezing us far beyond the point of comfort, and occasionly to the point of tears...), and would say "I love you _____" til he got the response he wanted ("I love you too Bill").

Unfortunately, it took him leaving for me to realize how much I love and appreciated every little thing about him....

Bill: Sorry for ever not immediately responding to your "I love you's" with "I love you too's." I'm gonna miss you so much while you're out there. Do work though. I know you are where you are needed most, and I'm excited for the people who will be able to meet you and experience you're awesome being. You are a force to be reckoned with, and you are definitely someone every person you come in contact with will be affected by....

I'm so glad I get you back (though it may seem like forever until I'll see you...). I'm gonna try to be everything you think I am, and live up to the image of me you believe in and look up to.

Love you boy.

Great pic of them two...

Matty's drunk again...poor kid.

This may look like a Brady-Bunch moment. But this was just...classic Bill.

Our day-after-Thanksgiving tradition: Putting up the tree :) Oh how we love Christmas...
And Bill :)