Woo!

Woo Woo Ipa! Happy Birthday! Woo!
I am pretty darn lucky to have you for a grandpa. I love how you play ball with me - two Ipa!!! And you are really good at teaching me to stick my finger in the icing of a pretty cake. And I really like collecting sticks in your back yard. I love when you meet me at Old MacDonalds for lunch with Mimi after swimming. I know you aren't fond of dirty diapers and I really am working on going on the potty. Thank you for teaching me how to pee on the perfect bush. I am getting pretty good at it. You are the best grandpa a kid could ask for. I can't wait to sing happy birthday to you 60 times and eat a really big piece of your birthday cake. I promise to stick my fingers in it first. Love you!!!

Jake Francis Thomas Samuel Hanson

Happy 60th Big Buck!

Dear Dad,
Happy 60th Birthday. I just want to let you know how proud I am of you and what an inspiration you are as a father, grandfather, and business man. Every time I'm with you I learn new things and have an appreciation for your hard work. You are a role model for me whether you've shown me how to build a tree house or how to be a good dad (even if you've embarrassed me from time to time growing up.) One of the funniest memories I can share is when I was 8 years old and I rode with you to drop the babysitter off. On the ride home you asked me if I had a girl friend and I said, "Yes." You asked me who she was and where she lived so I told you (not realizing what was to come.) By the time I was finished giving you every detail, I realized we were driving up my girlfriends driveway. You proceeded to honk the horn furiously yelling "Erin!! Erin Hanley!! Sean is in the car!!!" In shock, I crawled under the glove compartment in disbelief and confusion. As her mom turned on the lights and opened the front door, you peeled out of her driveway. This was utterly amusing to you but not so much for me at the time. On Monday morning at school, Erin asked me if my dad and I had been by her house on Friday night. Our relationship didn't last much longer past that day. But overall, the lesson I learned is that this tradition will be carried on to my son Jake.
You have taught me so many skills whether it's "measuring twice and cutting once" or how to pick the perfect size Christmas tree for the house. (But maybe I should teach you how to tie down a Christmas tree with the right rope.) All in all, my life today wouldn't be as fulfilling as it is without you in it. You provide guidance, laughter, humor, support, knowledge, experiences and so much more to me and my family. Thank you for being the best dad to us. I hope your birthday is special and memorable. I love you!

Love Sean (Your Spring Buck)

If Wyatt Could Post

Hi Ipah, Happy Birthday! You may have 60 years on me but we already have a lot in common: I love a full belly, you love a full belly, I love taking naps, you like inspecting the inside your eye lids too! Thank you for coming to visit me on my birthday. I think I'm going to like getting to know you. Love, Wyatt.

Life is Good!

When I was 16 my mother forbade to go out with Tom because she thought he was "too fast" for me. I went out with him any way and for our first date (to the prom) 2 of his mom's wine glasses were in the glove compartment and there was a bottle of wine cooling on the backseat..... and 37 years, 3 kids and 3 grandchildren later he stills makes me feel like that young girl. He's hardworking, a great dad and provider and always makes me laugh (at least most of time when he hasn't crossed way over the line). On our honeymoon when there was a horrible thunderstorm, he told me Captain Ed was coming out of the ocean to get me! I remember another time at a neighborhood Christmas Party, I heard screams of laughter coming from the kitchen and it was Tom giving all the guys a play by play description of his vasectomy! Another funny story I remember was our adventure with a bat flying around the house that looked like it was the size of a 747.
Tom loves being home and puttering around the house. (I call him Mr Fixit Fox). He loves being around his children, interacting with them as adults and sharing accomplishments and milestones. He is so proud of all three of them and delights in their sense of humor and what close friends they are with each other. Our 3 grandsons are the icing on the cake and are making the good times keep rolling. In Ipah's eyes they are perfection! So HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART! In your words We are blessed! Life is good!

happy birthday "uncle tom"...what great memories to celebrate your 60th and with such beautiful tributes from your family!! yes, you have indeed made us all laugh and take notice for many years, (60 is many) but i think one of my funniest memories of you is the night i discovered a flat tire in front of palmie's ( after dessert and drinks with you and aunt terri...).. understandably, you were less than enthusiastic, but as terri and i aimed the flashlight, we looked on as you swiftly emptied the junk from my trunk...it was like a volcanic eruption that appeared coming up over your shoulder!! you managed to locate the buried tools and spare tire from down under it all and change my tire with amazing skill and speed...(probably record time, considering the 4-letter words)...you then called for the trash bags as you left the scene of mounded treasures from my trunk and went on inside to bed...i want you to know that every time i open my trunk now, i think of you...i actually fear you with the possibility of having to ask for your assistance again if another flat tire would become my misfortune. my trunk still remains pleasantly full of all my needed items, but totally organized...i promise.

have a wonderful birthday celebration tom, and thanks for all the happy,fun-filled memories...love to you, aunt carol

Happy Happy Birthday to you!

I can't wrap my head around the fact that we are celebrating your 60th birthday when it seems like just yesterday we celebrated your 50th! I feel lucky to have been around so long for some of the monumental celebrations. I think my first memory of you is when Sean and I first started dating and I smashed up the red Dodge Daytona before I had even met you. It was shortly there after that Sean arranged a "meeting" in Newport for lunch and when I extended my hand to you, you said, "It's nice to meet you Crash." Talk about mortifying!
It didn't take me a lot of time to realize what a fun-loving dad you were. I always loved watching your interaction with Sean, Erin and Tommy...and most of all, your relationship with Terri/mom. I remember the first few years and thinking, "I hope to have this same type of relationship some day" (minus the puppy dog look Andy describes below.)
I remember our graduation party where you had the entire rugby and hockey teams mesmorized by your strong arm control bringing a 50-70 lb hammer hatchet thing (I'm bad with tools) from straight in front of you down to your nose without faltering once. Not one other tough and brawny jock could do that. It may have had something to do with the 10 kegs of beer and vat of grain alcohol that inhibited their strength but I will lean towards the fact that you have controlled strength.
I think what I appreciate most about you is your ability to deliver a shock factor. Whether we are at lunch at Oceancliff outside and you are sticking your big toe through the middle of the table wiggling it for Mike Queenan as he was waiting on tables or the time you told our waitress who just graduated from Salve Regina a "bunch of fat asses" go to school there, your ability to add the shock factor to any mundane situation is phenomenal.
Our happiest memories and times with you are watching you play with Jake and/or Lucy. The close bond you've created with Jake is so special. And as his Ipa, he will forever think of you and say, "Woo!"

We love all our special times with you on family trips, listening to career advice, or nosy-walking through the neighborhood. You've taught me a lot over the years and I'm very lucky to have you for a father-in-law.
I wish you a very happy 60th birthday and look forward to celebrating another 40 birthdays with you. Maybe more considering the path Nonna is on...Happy Birthday!!! Love you!
Des