Happy Birthday Steve and Carleen

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Happy Birthday,

Little Brother!

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Go ahead . . . pinch his cheeks. You know you want to. He won't mind a bit.

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I was ten when Steve was born, so I remember his childhood much as I remember that of my own children. And when my sister and I had children, Steve became "Uncle Steve" at a fairly young age and therefore he quickly became the kids' favorite uncle.
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From the time Steve was little, he loved fishing. He eats, sleeps and breathes fishing. Used to be, in a photo like this, dad would be in the front with little Steve running along behind him. Lately, the order has reversed. (don't get me crying now)
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Since they can't get out and fish as much as they'd like, the two of them have created: TroutU. It's amazing how TroutU has grown. You can see TroutU bumper stickers all over (well.... I can), hear about them on Twitter or Digg or StumbleUpon, etc. I love their slogan: Fish Smarter.

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Flyfishing along 441 in the Smokies is one of their favorite places to go. Steve grew up in those woods.

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I love, love, LOVE it when he takes me along. This is what I call fishing smarter. As he fishes up the stream, I tag along and do my writing. What a team. Anyone want to hire us?

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We've always been pretty close. Even when I knocked his teeth out with the hand held egg beater. (sorry about that, Steve)
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And then one day a pretty little girl caught his eye.

Fishing began to fade.

-Steve married Carleen Howell. A little gal with whom he had gone through school for 13 years. He began to see Carleen in a different light.

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And they wed.

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Carleen's birthday was yesterday, one day before Steevie Weevie's.

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Happy Birthday, Carleen!

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Carleen was presented to the family on one of our July 4 tubing/camping/fishing trips. She stayed with us in the girls' cabin, not knowing that once she married Steve, we'd all quit trying to impress her and go back to tent camping.
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Carleen brought a sense of style to Steve's bachelor-like life. She glitzed things up a little.

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Carleen's a shopper, loves to shop and manages to find the best deals around. Carleen is an extrovert, Steve is an introvert. Carleen's a musician, Steve's an engineer. They balance each other out in so many ways.

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Pretty soon, they were a threesome.

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All those years of playing with his nieces and nephews paid off. Steve was immediately a natural with little Emma.
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And by golly, that little Emma didn't slow them down one bit.

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. . . Errrrr. . .

maybe a little bit.

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Carleen is very photogenic. She's beautiful to begin with, but she has such a sense of style in appearance as well as peace and joy inside that her photos turn out terrific. This is one of my alltime faves. This was in Florida when Carleen had taken Emma to visit her grandmother.
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Here's Carleen in my pool with Emma and Eva. Emma and Eva are very close. They are adorable together. (you knew I'd get Eva in here, didn't you?)

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Right from the start, Carleen was a natural on our annual Ladies Gatlinburg trips. And then when we got Emma, too, what a deal! Carleen has spiced up our lives, love you Carleen!
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Carleen is going to miss our annual Gatlinburg trip this year, I think. Carleen will be busy giving birth at that time! Woot! We are very excited!!! This little family of three will become a family of four. I can't wait to meet the new addition!

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Happy birthday, guys, I love you tons.