It was around seven years ago that my roommate threw a party for a friend of ours. He said he wanted to feel like a kid again so we played games like pin the tail on the donkey and got him foam airplanes from the dollar store as a gift for him. He was surprised and touched by how much work went into his party and gave me a hug as thank you. I felt weird about it because he'd never hugged me before and I'd not done anything in preparation for this party. After the party we ended up talking while throwing the foam air planes at each other. We ended up talking about everything and anything until very late at night. By the end of the night we were finishing each others sentences and saying words like "poignant" at the same time. My head had already been turning despite myself although I'd swear up and down that we were just friends. And a little more than a year later we were married in the Nauvoo, Illinois temple. My life has never been the same since.

So today on his 31st birthday I will list the top ( certainly not a comprehensive list ) 31 reasons my husband Derek Tangren is WONDERFUL.

1. After 6 years of marriage he still does things like this:
It was a hot day so he filled up the water pitcher and left an ice cold glass of water with this note.

2 He always thanks me for doing the dishes ( and laundry and cooking dinner, cleaning up, making the bed, etc ) even when I haven't finished them and have the ones I do have clean on a towel drying instead of drying them and putting them away.

3. He stays with Hyrum every Tuesday while I go to Young Womens and usually has all the dishes done, the house cleaned up and Hyrum in bed when I get home. He says he does it because I'm busy with Hyrum all day. Isn' t Hyrum with him all night too?

4. He's the most diligent and dependable person I know. Anyone who has ever worked with him in any capacity knows it too.

5. He loves MY family. He likes to spend time with them when they are here. And he likes to visit them there. He would do just about anything for them and I'm pretty sure they like him too. ( He's even been known to send flowers and such things when he's nervous that he hasn't made a good impression)
After this photo was taken and we came down off the mountain we realized that my mom left her water bottle near the top on a hot Aug day so Derek RAN up to get it and back down again.

6. He helps countless people with their computers for hours on end and never gives up trying to fix it. I've NEVER heard him complain about it either. EVER!

7. He works so hard so that I can stay home with Hyrum.

8. The boy's got hops!
That's Derek "jumping the stream" at Hyrum's party. That blanket is easily longer than 7 feet! And he cleared it!!!

9. He shows interest in what I'm interested in. He knows what an Echinacea purpurea and Rudbeckia hirta is. (it's the purple cone flower and the black eyed susan )


10. He's a good loser. Better said he's a gracious loser. He never gets upset or pouty when he loses. He just pounds the floor with a smile on his face.

11. He's a good sport
11. Even though he says he's not a dancer, he dances with me in the kitchen.

12. He has tons of pictures of Hyrum and I all over his office at work

13. He loves to play with his nieces and nephews




















( I apologize that I don't have pictures with all of our nieces and nephews, Hyrum is not cooperating and letting me take the time I'd like to on this)



14. He has become as crazy about money as I am...well maybe not AS crazy but he doesn't call me a tight wad anyway. And he at least understands me when I would rather throw on an extra sweater than turn up the heat to 60 degrees in the dead of winter.

15. He can talk to and is friends with everybody from tiny kids to the older people in our neighborhood.

16. You can always count on Derek to help, and he will always offer as well. It doesn't matter if it's helping someone move, teaching a lesson, fixing a computer, you name it he is always there.

17. He is very well read and has renewed my passion for reading.

18. He never makes fun of me for being a year and three months older than him. Not even on birthdays

19. He doesn't make fun of me for coming up with my own words like "smallerize" and someone who likes to read is a "booky"

20. He puts up so well with my moodiness. Poor chap!

21. He can cheer me up faster than anyone I know... if I let him.

22. He is hilarious! He makes me laugh all the time

23. He loves to play with Hyrum



24. He is so busy at work but ALWAYS takes time to talk to me on instant message even about silly things when I'm bored and never says "I'm too busy for this" when I'm sure most of the time he is.

25. He always wants to keep learning, in fact he keeps threatening to go back to graduate school.

26. He reminds me of my dad ( that's a good thing )

27. He uses big words.

28. He will always see me like this...


29. He gets excited about things with me. Even if they are not terribly exciting to him.

30 He's friends with the same guys he was friends with in high school and they still get together. He also keeps in close contact with all of his second families.

31. He is my perfect match in every way. I don't know what I would do without him. He is the most incredible dad to my son and I want Hyrum to grow up to be just like him.

Wait! Wait! I have more! I guess it'll have to save some for next time.

I love you so much! Happy Birthday!


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8 comments:

    Nikki said...

    Perfect tribute post Sunny. Happy Birthday Derek!!! I'm sure you enjoy being the youngest adult in the family. :) Love you tons!

  1. ... on July 1, 2008 at 11:51 PM  
  2. Dave said...

    Yes, your family loves him too, and not just because he loves you and Hyrum... and he doesn't need to work at making an impression. The fact that he's like me =) is sufficient, but I understand he just can't keep himself from doing nice things for others.
    Again, Happy 31st Derek
    BTW - you'll never be old to us, you have such a young personality.

  3. ... on July 2, 2008 at 7:11 PM  
  4. Kelly said...

    Happy birthday Derek and spot on Sunny.

  5. ... on July 2, 2008 at 10:05 PM  
  6. Nikki said...

    Hope you had a great day Derek! Did you do anything special... did Sun splerge on a delivery pizza? ;) (teasing of course, Sun)
    Blog about your day old man! :)

  7. ... on July 3, 2008 at 12:52 AM  
  8. Jenn J. said...

    It's all true. Derek, you are a great guy... way too good to hang out with the riff-raff you still associate with. :) I sure am glad you do though because we love you dearly. I hope you had a great birthday, old man.

  9. ... on July 5, 2008 at 1:32 PM  
  10. Pam said...

    Derek is a treasure and I am so happy Sunny found him for our family. He loves intensely and is a wonderful husband for our daughter and dedicated father for our grandson. Love you, Derek.

  11. ... on July 6, 2008 at 6:52 AM  
  12. Binne77 said...

    What a great post. :-) Happy Birthday Derek...I know Sunny chose well for herself. :-)

  13. ... on July 8, 2008 at 12:19 PM  
  14. Unknown said...

    That is an awesome post.

  15. ... on July 14, 2008 at 9:51 AM