Happy Birthday, Kristin!

Today is my sister’s birthday.

(Picture circa 1990)

She always had the coolest bangs, as you can see from the picture above!

Kristin is 7 years older than me, which means for much of our lives I was the annoying little sister and she was the too-cool older sister. It wasn’t until I was 19 that I really got to know her. Now she is one of my very best friends, and has been since that first summer she came to visit me out in California.

That first summer, she wanted to rent a convertible and drive down the Pacific Coast Highway, so that’s exactly what we did.

That was really cool right up until we discovered that black smoke billowed out from under the car, and the odometer was completely jacked, and basically the car was a piece of junk. I have such happy memories of jamming to our California Tunes, spending all day at the beach, and cruising around like a couple of hot blondes in the vert.

Every summer, we would go to a fancy store and try on formal dresses.

We would make up imaginary benefits that we had to attend. When we were dressed-out, we would head over to In N Out for some burgers.  (I’m drooling right now just thinking about In N Out!)

Every year when I picked her up from the airport, In N Out was the very first stop, no matter what time of day she was arriving.  10:00 a.m?  How about an early lunch?  10:00 p.m.?  How about a late night snack?  We loved us some In N Out!

We loved to buy matching outfits, and had (and still have) several matching or coordinating things.

One year we even got professional pictures taken.

All in all, I think my sister is pretty great.  She is compassionate, funny, loyal, and loving.  She is the first one I called after dropping off Austin at the shelter, and she cried right along with me on the phone.  She is the one I want to call when something funny happens.  She is an amazing volleyball player and an amazing volleyball coach.

Basically, my sister rocks.

K, I wish I could have been there with you this weekend.  Sorry I’m such a db and dropped the ball on that one.  Only a few weeks until Thanksgiving…I can’t wait to see you!  Maybe we can go shopping and get a pedi.  Thanks for being one of my best friends and the best sister.  I love you and hope you had a fantastic birthday!