2-19...It's Your Day, Jess

Happy Birthday, Sis...You're the Queen Bee Today!

32 years of being my little sis...lucky you...

I know you gave strict instruction to "Not Celebrate" your 32nd...

but how could I abide by such a foolish rule?...

You are...my best friend...my partner in crime...you are the only one that I call to "back me up" when Mr C doesn't exactly believe a crazy story of mine...you are my funniest friend...you are my best shopping partner and my go-to- gal when a fashion crisis arises...you're my secret keeper....and the best auntie to my 3 kiddos...

You are such a wonderful mom to your boys...they are so lucky to have you...I'll make sure that they know just how great you are when they come running to me in a couple of years when you are no longer "cool" to your kids...but aunties are still climbing high on the cool-o-meeter...I'm just saying...that's not that far away...

I am so glad that you and I are so close...seems that after high school we have always been this way...I would have and always do prefer to lunch with you or shop with you or sit at coffee with you rather than anyone else (side note to Mr C:This does not include you my darling...I'm referring to the female population in my life in this Birthday tribute...I do hope you understand...I love to shop and lunch and coffee with you as well)...We seem to have the best time sharing time together...How lucky are we?...Built in sister-friends... do you think mom is gonna take the credit for that?...I do... guess she can have it...no matter...doesn't seem to bother me that much...

I think that you are the one that has been right by my side through all of the grown-up moments...Matron of Honor at my wedding... first to come and love my kids when they were born... THE ONE WHO VISITED ME IN EL PASO THE MOST... there for me before during and after my surgery... shopping with me after my surgery and just as excited for me as I was... then the one reassuring me that my divorce was truly in the best interest of my family......LOTS OF CRYING...lots of laughing... COMFORTING ME AND HELPING ME THROUGH DIVORCE ...WHEN WE LOST DAD...Just as excited as I was when I reunited with Mr C ... my painting partner when I bought the new house ...with me when I bought my first pair of expensive jeans and with me almost every pair after...first one I called when Mr C proposed...

We do just about everything together...again...how lucky are we?...

Thanks for being my best friend and listening to me vent about the small stuff...thanks for sharing the same addiction to Starbucks venti non-fat no-whip white mochas with a venti cup of ice on the side...thanks for teaching me to sew this past weekend...thanks for letting me boss you around as you sometimes say I do...thanks for being the baker when I am the cook...because those cookies and bars that you make are killer...thanks for being my first phone conversation of every day and for helping me with fashion dilemmas and for keeping my self-esteem on a level playing field...thanks for constantly making me laugh with your dry sense of humor BECAUSE THAT IS WHEN I TRULY SEE DAD IN YOU...thanks for still sharing clothes and accessories and household stuff and kids and ideas and thanks for being the other half of me on most days...

I think that our relationship is one of the greatest blessings in my life and I am grateful for it everyday...

Thanks for being the greatest sister.

Thanks for being the greatest friend.

Happy Birthday, I Love you.

32 is gonna be a kick ass kinda year!!