happy birthday, juju!

Happy Birthday

to my RAD sister, Julie.

Julie (Jolie, juju, Jewels, Juls, Juge)

is hands down one of my most favorite people on the planet.

This chick is funny, adorable, full of life.

Instead of going on and on about how incredible she is (forever)

I figured I would share a few things about her that I find truly amazing.

Julie is going to make an amazing mom someday... here's how I know.

One of our favorite games to play together growing up was called "Kaitlyn".

(Don't ask me who came up with such a clever name.)

Anyways, Juls would carry me around in a basket my mom kept our magazines in.

That was the game... she pretended to be my mom and I was Kaitlyn.

We made up make - shift stores and places to go in our house and she would take me "places" with her.

She was full of compassion - she would nurture me, take care of me.

And this continued through elementary school, middle school, high school, college.
(minus the basket)

She is always my friend.

Julie has a true sensitive spot for humans.

A few years back, I have a distinct memory of sitting on the floor crying with her as we watched Richard Simmons deliver shoes to kids who didn't have any.

Juls and I played "school" growing up.

We had 5 students and we were both the teachers.

We had a white board and text books with teachers editions.

We actually made up assignments on the computer, filled them in like we were the student, and corrected them.

In our mind, each kid had a different personality and skill level.

By the way, "Devon" was the bad kid.

She taught me how to have an imagination.

Juls is a (real life) 4th grade teacher.

I wish I could express in words how amazing she is at teaching, but I can't.

But, 3 weeks ago, I called to see what she was doing.

After having a long day at work and coaching the girls volleyball team at her school,

she was on her way to buy a book.

It was a book in a series - the third one in the set.

The library at her school doesn't have it and one of the little girls in her class had asked her if she knew where she could find it.

She went to borders, bought it, and went to the restaurant the little girl's parents own.

Julie knew her student would be there.

She pays attention to her kids.

She loves her job, it's her passion.

And you couldn't imagine how much they love her.

Julie and I shared a room growing up.

My parents hardly saw us during the summers,

but every time they did, our furniture was rearranged differently.

We are buddies.

Juls is the middle child in our family,

and I think she gathered the best qualities in both of my parents.

Sometimes Juls is the mind of our family.

We can all be raging about something, and she reminds us of common sense.

She's grounded.

I grew up watching Juls with wide-eyes.

She was my own little idol. 

I wanted to be just like her.

I still do.

Sometimes I wish we could go back to the summers when we were little.

We would video tape our dolls, make home movies, and clean the house for my mom.

I remember vacuuming ourselves into different corners of the house and playing the board game 'life'.

Ironic, considering she's taught me so much about life.

Julie has long, beautiful eyelashes, and stunning blue eyes.

She has thick, soft brown hair that wraps around her pretty, petite face.

She's gorgeous.

God, I love my sister.

Happy 26th Birthday

to Juge.

I love you.

did i mention she's a kick ass

wakeboarder?

;)