Happy Birthday Kelli!

My sister Kelli is 26 today and my family and I decided it was only fitting to give her a birthday tribute after she so kindly posted about all of us on her blog here in February - The Month of Love. Hope you enjoy:

Kelli makes the best music mixes...a strong competitor to DJ Jazzy Jeff. Ps it's been a while since I've seen any new ones, eh? Kelli makes rolls that give my taste buds a glimpse into what food must be like in the celestial kingdom. She's the Jillian Michaels of Utah County- helping all of us weight-challenged people make it into the Golden Corral without going hypertensive. Happy Birthday Kelli! Love, Chris

Reasons you wish Kelli was your sister:

She is funny. She is thoughtful. She is up for most anything. She gives outstanding presents. She has a quick wit. She can cook and bake like you can't believe. She is super smart. She has cute shoes. She has nice tan skin. She has really good hair. She's got your back. She is in tune spiritually. She is well-read and always has an excellent book recommendation. She is fun to play games with. She finds the best holiday cards. She is giving. She is always doing some cool activity of some sort. She doesn't complain. She has never-ending eyelashes. She knows who she is. She has a radiant smile. She loves her family and they know it. She is a techno-babe. She is in the know. She is a good and practiced listener. She is helpful. She goes the extra mile. She is humble. She is a stellar aunt. She is an outstanding friend. She is a loyal sports fan. She is a walking record store. She knows what she likes. Being around Kelli is an all-around good time, and is always a lifting experience. And the best part is I don't have to wish- Kelli IS my sister! I am so lucky. Love you Smell! - Candist

Dear Kelli,

Your beauty, like your mother, is unsurpassed. Your sparkling eyes can melt the heart of any young man. Your wink is part of that knowing glance that conveys more than mere words. You are muy intellegente! You are a queen of culinary cuisine! You can do hard things (e.g. stucco a fence- and it is usually at Mom's bidding)! I am most grateful that your incredibly perfect hair grew back (didn't it?) after I pulled it out from getting tangled in the repelling rope. You are a natural leader and a most inspired example of womanhood. You are most generous and a faithful and true friend to all. Mom and I are very proud of you and count ourselves most blessed to enjoy you as one of our priceless treasured children. You are a most precious daughter and cherished gift from our Heavenly Father.

Love,

Dad

Dear Kelli,

I love you. Happy Birthday. I hope you enjoy having your birthday party this year. I hope you have a lot of fun. I love you because you do such great things. Like going swimming with me, and going to the movies, and hanging out together. I like having KFC for lunch with you. You are a great sister of mine. Thank you for all the things you have done for me. Love, Parker

p.s. Bobcat of the year.

Some of my friends ask me why I decided to go to BYU instead of ASU. The truth is, I moved to Utah to be closer to Kelli's kitchen. Joking aside, I do love when she invites me to dinner and sends me home with an unlawful amount of food. It symbolizes the way she lives her life. She shares her time, talents, and enjoyment of life with everyone. When we were kids, I admired her good taste in Legos, GIJoe's, and cartoons. More recently, she is always willing to share with me her nifty findings in food, clothes and music. But even though we have much in common, she is still so accepting of everyone that is different. I love you Kel! Love, J.D.

Kelli,

Where do I begin?? Happy Birthday to one of the FINEST young ladies I know!! You are kind, smart, generous, talented, hard-working, dependable, diligent, steady, considerate, helpful (mostly to me), fun, funny, and independent. What more could a mom ask for?! Thank you for being such a great example to all of us. Thank you for all the ‘projects’ you’ve helped me with! Thank you for loving sports. J Thank you for all the carefully thought out gifts that we all love and cherish. Thank you for being sensible and taking care of the household whenever you are here---wish it was much more often! Thank you for the many wonderful meals and rolls!! You are beautiful inside and out and I’m proud to claim you!!!

Lots of love and hurry home!!!!

Muth

Happy Birthday Kelli!!! I'm proud to call you my sister (in-law). You have set a great example for everyone in the family and your friends with finishing school and starting your career. You are always so thoughtful to me and my family and I really appreciate you! I hope your birthday is the best one ever. love Derek.

One of Kelli’s best characteristics is her thoughtful giving. Many times in my life I have been the recipient of awesome birthday/Christmas gifts like G.I. Joes, championship wrestling belts, nose flutes, and CDs with hand-picked songs from Kelli. It’s like she knows what I want for Christmas even when I don’t really know what I want. Each custom made CD is the same way- she knows the kind of music I like without me even knowing what kind of music I like. My ipod is filled with hundreds of songs on a playlist that Kelli made especially for me (this has helped me through many hours of homework and yard work). Each member of the family receives the same kinds of thoughtful gifts, and they are so meaningful because of the thought and care that Kelli puts into them. I mean, as much as I love my championship wrestling belt, it wouldn’t mean nearly as much to me if I had bought it for myself.

Gift giving is a good example of her selflessness, but it’s not the only way that Kelli shows charity for everyone. I think her generosity and thoughtfulness is constant. Any time she comes home for a visit, she takes the lead in doing yard work, house work, cooking, etc. She has become famous for baking unparalleled rolls and has made literally thousands of them without a complaint. Any time I go up to Utah for a visit, she seems to drop everything to drive me wherever and take me and J.D. to expensive restaurants and insist on paying for us, or cook another one of her supreme meals for us. Of course I would still love Kelli even if she didn’t buy me cool gifts or make me rolls or do my share of yard work or pay for my meals. My point is that a vast majority of her time is spent on serving others and making other people happy. This is something she has mastered, and I want to be more like her. Happy birthday, Kelli! I love you! Carter

Kelli is seriously one of my best friends! I love how much she cares for EVERYONE, as seen by all of these posts she has done for each and every one of us--in the spare time that she doesn't have much of! I love when she comes home to visit--She helps out with the cleaning and makes my life easier! :) Kelli always gives the greatest gifts EVER! She listens to small conversations all throughout the year and then surprises everyone by remembering the details, and giving a present that has to do with it. Kelli makes the greatest food EVER and likes to share that talent, which is fine by me! She makes the BEST rolls you have ever tasted! Kelli has always been such an example to me. She was my sister that was at home the longest, and I remember looking at her and thinking she was SO cool! I wanted to be JUST like her, and I have become more and more like her as the years have gone by, much to my advantage! Watching Kelli run in junior high inspired me to do it too, and I'm so glad I did! She is always fun to go shopping with, or to just talk to. She takes an interest in everyone, regardless of how "cool" they are to others. She spends her time serving others, and making sure that everyone has not only what they need, but a little extra too. Kelli has always been an awesome example and big sister to me, and I'm so glad I can call her my friend and sister! Love, Emma

Dear Kelli, You are one in a million. You are kind, extremely thoughtful and generous, beautiful, funny and smart. You could start your own "EVERYTHING" business- chef, painter, landscaper, nanny, coach, tutor, DJ, just to name a few. I love getting music and book recommendations from you because you have great taste. Your rolls and mashed potatoes are heavenly and it's probably best you don't live here or I might gain 500 pounds from eating them all day every day. One of my favorite trips was when Candice and I came to visit; definitely time to do it again! I love that you aren't ashamed to be dandy with us, even when yelling "crapbag!" out the car window to passersby. Your nieces and nephews (and Parker) LOVE spending time with you- you will be a wonderful mother and your future husband will be so lucky to have you! I am very blessed to have you for a sister- I love you! - Maren

I remember when I was about eight years old, Kelli (then about five or six) and I were roller-skating inside the pool area. Don’t ask me why. This was during the late 80s when roller skates were made with leather uppers and solid steel frames. While racing around the pool Skateland style, Kelli and I noticed a small raft floating toward the edge of the pool at a snail’s pace. Kelli and I decided we needed to get a hold of that raft. I knelt down on the edge of the deck and reached out over the water. I’ll never forget Kelli’s inspiring cheers: Mason! Mason! Mason! I knew I couldn’t let her down, so I reached as far as I could. But the raft was just out of reach. I plunged face first into the water. The skates were like bags of cement pulling me to the bottom of the pool. I remember looking up at Kelli through several feet of water. How could I have let her down? She was my biggest fan, my sidekick. Thankfully, Kelli called for help and Dad came quickly to the rescue.

To this day, Kelli continues to encourage and uplift others (although she has stopped encouraging roller skaters near bodies of water). I feel that just as Kelli looked up to me when we were kids, I look up to her today for her good example and righteousness. She is one of the most thoughtful, kind individuals I know. Thank you Kelli for being a great sister and friend. Happy Birthday!

Love, Mason

Kelli is one of my favorite people. There are many things I love about her. She is one of the most thoughtful people I know. Kelli is always listening, so if you mention that you need an immersion blender, there is a good chance you will find one in your mailbox a week or two later. Or if she goes out of her way to come visit you in another state, she will probably send you some flowers afterward.

Kelli is often referred to as the “Favorite Aunt.” It is probably because she remembers every birthday, spends quality time, and makes each person feel special.

When we lived in Florida, we loved when Kelli came to visit. It was nice to have her to ourselves for a few days. Some of my favorite activities with Kelli include laying out at her pool in Provo, taking a road trip to San Francisco, relaxing at the beach on the east coast and the west, playing basketball at the church in Jacksonville, going to Disney World, traveling to Savannah, and baking/eating Kelli’s Famous Buns and Cinnamon Rolls.

Kelli is smart, accomplished, and witty. There is never a dull moment when she is around. I am so grateful that Kelli is my sis-in-law. She’s a good one! Happy Birthday, Kel!!! Love, Amanda

Happy Birthday Kelli! WE LOVE YOU!