Double Digits, Baby!

So, guess who turned DOUBLE DIGITS a few weeks ago?


That's right, my baby!!!



Sis turned the big 1-0... And boy was she excited!!!!


So, in the spirit of Bub's birthday post (see here), I thought I'd list out 10 things (out of many) I love about Sis.

1. Her artistic ability and eye... Sis can draw anything anytime, and do it WELL! Her favorite style is a cartoon-ish style. She draws while she watches TV, she draws at school, she draws when she's bored, she draws ALL the time! And let me just say, Don and I neither one have ANY artistic abilities!

2. I love Sis's personality. She's NEVER met a stranger, she is passionate about things and people she loves, she's funny (sarcastic much?), she's curious and sincere, and people enjoy being around her... especially me!

3. Sis has a special affinity for animals and babies. And poor thing, she's out of luck on both fronts at our house! Her mama's done having babies, and her dad/brother are allergic to animals, so she can't have those either! But she loves being around other babies and others' animals!

4. Her memory. She can read a word she's never heard before (or hear one on TV), and ask me about it a week later. She still remembers a girl she met on vacation in Phoenix several years ago by name (they played together in the pool one day).

5. She has a mind of her own. That's not ALWAYS good, but a lot of the time, it's great! She doesn't do things just because her friends are doing it. That's a sign of a leader, not a follower!

6. She's determined! Sis has a lot of weather fears because of a really scary storm we were stuck in several years back. She knows these fears can be crippling, so a couple times a year, she gets a determined look on her face and decides to face her fears. The picture above is her playing in the rain... which was a BIG HONKING deal at the time... it was the first time she had willingly gone outside in the rain in YEARS!

7. So this one is shallow... but she's so stinking cute! She's got rosy cheeks, adorable blonde hair that grown-ups pay lots of money to try to replicate, beautiful big green eyes (I always wanted green eyes), and the cutest little nose!

8. As social as Sis is, her favorite thing is to hang out with her family... movie nights and game nights make her happy (movie nights MORE than game nights, to be honest... she doesn't always like our game choices! hee). Gotta love a girl who loves her mama!

9. She's a good mix of girly-girl and tomboy... or another way to put it is: she's a good mix of her mom and dad. Sis has been more interested in fashion and make-up lately, but she's always been interested in decorating her room the way she wanted it, deconstructing her barbie clothes for them, NOT so interested in sports (except for swimming)... but she's also interested in riding the 4-wheeler, helping her dad mow (on the riding lawnmower, of course), hiking through the snow, going to Cardinals games....

10. She's able to enjoy the moment. Sis has always loved whatever age she is... While she can't WAIT to grow up (so she can say "butt" mostly, I think), she truly enjoys where she is. When she was in pre-school, she lovedlovedloved pre-school. Kindergarten was the same. In 3rd grade, she loved being the oldest at her school. Now in 4th grade, she loves being in a new school with older kids. She has a sense of true joy just being...

I love you so much, baby! And you'll always BE my baby... even though you'll probably be as tall as me in the next year or so (not fair, those genetics!). Welcome to double-digits!