Happy birthday Ross!

I am so pleased and also a little freaked out to say it's is my little brother's birthday! He is 25 years old today :) I'm feel sorry to not be spending today with him and the rest of family to celebrate :( but I know he will have fun, eat his favorite foods, and feel truly loved, as we all do, by our outstanding parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. To say that Ross has had a profound effect on my life, might be putting it simply. He is a constant reminder to me to stay focussed on the things in life that really matter. I know that growing up with a brother who has special needs can be a challenge for anyone, and i commend my parents for continuing to do such an excellent job, day in, and day out.

Ross, Happy birthday Bud! I want to tell you that I love you SO much and I miss you a lot too :) I hope you have an awesome birthday today, have tons of fun, and eat lots of mint chocolate chip ice cream!!
You are a very special guy, and I am so lucky that you are my brother. These are just a few of my favorite things about you that I will be thinking about today :)
- your laugh - its so genuine that you can't help but start laughing yourself!
- your angry face - not to be mean, but you look so mischievous, and adorable
- how excited you get when you clear a level in one of your video games and you call me into your room to tell me all about how you got there - very cool
- the way you say "no thank you!" even when you are angry about something - I hope that you are always that polite :)
- your sound effects
- how sweet you are with babies, and how you make soft cooing sounds at all of them
- your small pranks - you know you can't keep a straight face!
- I love how you are always trying to be a great big brother to Emma, and take care of her
- when I ask you to, you will try to have a conversation with me, even if you don't feel like it sometimes.

You are the best brother in the whole wide world, and I love you very much.
HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY ROSS!!!