The Big 4-0 for Mark!

40 is a big birthday.  Just saying the number 40 in relation to aging makes you feel like you've done some living.  You've got some experience behind you, but you've got some great things ahead as well and both things need to be celebrated.  Mark has made an impact in a lot of lives.  Many people respect him for his expertise in law and pretty much anything else, and it's not just knowledge, but wisdom.  When he talks through something with you, he looks at many aspects of an issue and can hone in on the most important issues and come up with an effective and efficient plan to attack the problem.  He has a quick wit that you have to take care to keep up with.  He cares deeply about the progress and care of his family and works hard to teach his sons good principles.  Spencer, D.J. and James think Mark is one of the funniest people on earth, they love listening to his stories, antidotes, and jokes.  They also believe he is the smartest person they know and have referred to him as their dictionary.  Another well-known fact about Mark is that he is a University of Utah fan.  So, for his 40 birthday I decided to ask over 40 people who love, admire and respect Mark (finding people was easy), to wear a University of Utah shirt in honor of Mark.  It was hard for a few people (particularly BYU fans), but most were excited about the proposition and many said, "I'll do anything for Mark."

So, below are pictures of much more than 40 people who think that Mark being born is a pretty great thing.

Mark always requests foot rubs for anything that is ever asked of him from his boys, or recommends foot rubs when boredom arises, or when he suggests an activity for family night.  So, all three boys converged on his feet for 15 minutes to give him the ultimate foot rub.

Triple berry pie with only one candle for a birthday wish and a round of "Happy Birthday To You" from Granna and the fam.

With so many people taking pictures to celebrate a great guy, it seemed appropriate to give them an opportunity to wish him a happy birthday in person.  So, on the evening of his actual birthday, a group of people crowded into our house to show the love.  We indulged in an ice cream bar with only white, red and dark goodies and U of U cupcakes.  Thanks to all who helped make Mark feel like the great man he is!