This weekend he competed in the 5A State Wrestling Tournament......and he rocked! (Andrew is the wrestler in the black singlet)He placed second in the whole state of Arizona, in his weight division. The kid who beat him for first has been wrestling since he was 3, is ranked 5th in the nation, and had pinned everyone of his opponents this year, except for my little brother - who scored 3 points on him!! I am so proud of him!
I am going to brag about Andrew just a little (ok, alot). Disclaimer: I love and adore all my brother's equally.....they are more like my own children, than brother's (probably because of the age gap), and they will each get t
heir own "brag blog".....but right now, it's Andrew's turn to be embarassed.I was 13 when Andrew was born. I was right there in the delivery room when he came into this crazy world, and it really was love at first sight.......I was smitten from the words "It's a boy!"
Andrew was such a fun baby brother. He was so chubby and happy. He never even complained when I would dress him up in all my old dresses and doll clothes.....something he's not too thrilled about now.....seeing as, I have the pictures!
Andrew started Kindergarten my senior year of high school. I drove him to school and walked him to his classroom......everyday. And he would hug and kiss me and tell me he loved me.....everyday (even when his little friends were watching).
He has always been loving and sweet, but could also be a bit mischevious. One time, a boyfriend of mine came over.....a boyfriend my Dad didn't like too much. Andrew runs up to him and says "What's your name?"......boyfriend says "Tony, what's yours?".....Andrew says "Ohhhh! Tony! Yeah, I know you! My Dad says you're a 'horsesasses'!" He didn't get in trouble, of course, since my Dad was rolling on the floor......and he really had just called Tony a "horse's ass". Yeah, that's when I discovered 4 year olds repeat everything!
One night, a few days before I left for college, I was in my bathroom washing my face, getting ready for bed. 5 year old Andrew padded down the hall and stood in the doorway. I said, "You need to go potty?"......he shook his head 'no'. "What's wrong, bad dream?". His little bottom lip started to quiver, and his eyes started to fill with tears. I picked him up and set him on counter, he looked up at me and said "Are you really going to move away and not be my sister anymore?" I thought my heart had broken in two. I think he and I had the hardest time with being separated that first year. If I could have, I would have taken him with me.
He has always been very considerate and hard working. A few years ago my brother's went out front to play some ball. Andrew noticed Mr. William's - who lives down the street - had a huge mound of rocks delivered in his driveway. Andrew stopped the game, went into the garage, got a wheelbarrel, some shovels, and gloves. He talked Aaron and Alex into going down and helping out, as well. They spent their Saturday afternoon shoveling rock at the William's.....until it was all done......without a second thought.
My kids adore him, and he adores them right back. He is a crazy fun uncle and will do just about anything to make my kids happy. He'll dress up funny and wear his hair like "Wolverine" while going to get ice cream.....if that's what Braden thinks is cool that day. He calls Brooke his "little Princess", and she calls him her "Best Girlfriend"......a title he is most proud of. He and Bryce have their own little language made up of grunts, growls, and wrestling moves....that always ends in them both rolling on the ground laughing.
Even though he has more friends and girlfriends than I can keep track of, and always has something going on......he still takes time to come hang out with us "old people". My kids think Christmas has come early when Uncle Andrew comes to spend the night.....they love it. He and Rob stay up late watching stupid scary movies and eating junk together......and then they spend the rest of the night trying to scare the crap out of each other.
I love it when he and his friends are hanging out and they are having
a debate, or have a question about music....he says "I'll call my sister, she'll know the answer". And he does call me, often, sometimes just to say "hi", but he always ends the call with "love you".......even when his friends are around.He is an outstanding athlete, an Eagle Scout, seminary President, and just an all around great guy. He is an excellent example to our younger brothers and to my children. I am so proud to call him my brother.
THUNDER DOME!!
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