MY BABY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

YOU LOOK LIKE A MONKEY

AND YOU SMELL LIKE ONE TOO!

Over the years, this has been the birthday joke whenever any of us has their special day.  Today is my son, Murphy's 42nd birthday.

The picture is the day we went home from the hospital and I can remember it like it was yesterday.  He has grown into a good looking young man, with a wonderful personality and concern for others.

A few things I can remember about him as he grew from that baby until today------

He was afraid of the water in the swimming pool, and would sit on the concrete and play with his cars, while the girls went in.....it took him years to be brave enough to jump, but jump he did!

He drove his sisters crazy!  They said he always got what he wanted because he was the baby and only boy.  Hmmmm!

He is a physically strong young man, and any time I called or still do call on him, he is willing to help. The girls did dishes, and he brought in wood for the fireplace....they had chores back then!

He had bunk beds in his bedroom and always slept on the top bunk.  Little did we know, until we moved, that he had written, drawn and posted pictures, on the square tiles of the ceiling.  I never looked up I guess....lol  We did save a tile or two so he could show to his son one day.

Murphy was very athletic, played baseball, basketball, ski'd, and tag football.  Our children went to private schools, and for some reason, it did not have a football team.  He has been a bartender, owned his own restaurant, been a delivery boy, mowed grass, worked in the construction business with his Dad.  He is one of those people who can do anything.

He has a son now of his own and I am so proud of the Dad he has become.  He spends all of his spare time with his boy and the love between them is thrilling for me to see.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES MURPHY ELLER!  I pray you have many more happy years ahead and you know you mean the world to your Mom, Dad and even those two 'mean' sisters you have.