Happy Birthday Sis!!!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear Jeri, Happy Birthday to you!

Today is Jeri's birthday. (Most people think it's the 13th, but they are desperately misguided. After all, were they THERE??? Because I'm convinced that I was (at least in spirit) doing the 'send-off' party from heaven so I would know after all! She's old. Ok maybe not OLD, but older than me and so I'll get to tease her about it for eternity. And she's not pregnant - which is rare since she's conceived in her birth month 4 times I think (the girl knows how to celebrate). In honor of this momentous occasion we made her a cake . . . on the lakeshore . . . with fishy sand and rocks . . . it was a lot of work to keep it from being destroyed before the finished product resembled anything like a cake, now THAT's love!!! (coincidentally I think Ayvri did try a piece)

I realize that I haven't immortalized any of my other siblings on their birthdays and for this I'd feel guilt if I believed in the concept of guilt (which I don't). But you see, there's something different about Jeri (and I do mean DIFFERENT). She helped me pick out my wedding dress, was the first to babysit my first born, took a step aerobics class with me and made me cool-aid after every class while I hyperventilated on her floor. She helped me try to steal my Mom's car as a prank, she inspired me to love making Halloween costumes, she lets me treat her kids like they're mine, she asks me if I need to put my feet up, she knows things before I tell her, she can't keep secrets from me and she's the first person (after Tyler) that I vent to when I'm feeling anxious or excited. Not to mention the fact that she is one FUNNY GIRL!!! We've got some major history together in the short 7+ years we've known each other. She inspired me with her down-to-earth, take-me-as-I-am, mother-of-four-ness.

Happy Birthday Jeri . . . now get out there and celebrate :)