Happy Birthday, Erin!

My little sister turns 18 today, so in honor of her birthday and her having just graduated, I figured I would write a nice lovely post about her.

I don't remember you being born, but based on pictures, you were a little big chunk of love. Emphasis on the chunk :)

Then around the ages of 2-4 you turned into the CUTEST little child ever. Seriously, THE. CUTEST!

I don't really remember you annoying me much, but I am sure you did over the next few years, because I was smack dab in the middle of the pre-teen/teen/hormone drama years. I wonder if you remember the woes of listening to me cry while yelling "my ponytail is crooked!"

I remember thinking how cute it was when you were the ONLY girl ever invited to boys birthday parties and making fun of you when boys tried to kiss you. See...I wasn't the only one who thought you were the cutest little girl ever :)

And then...the awkward years.

We made fun of your hard, different, cardboard? hair.

The few years where you were a little more chubby.

And somewhere right around that time we doubled our family size and added 4 little kiddos, and you suddenly became a big sister.

You might be the one who gets the most frustrated with them from time to time, but you were also the one who grew up with them. I remember watching you guys together many times over the years and thinking "wow...they act just like siblings." How you fight, how you play, just how you interact together. Your relationship is different with them than mine is, because I was already moved out of the house at the time they came.

It has been so fun watching you grow into a big sister role. You really weren't made to be a baby anyway...you need someone to boss around ;)

And then somewhere in those high school years you grew into the most beautiful woman.

You are so different than me. So bubbly and outgoing. Everyone's friend. You got long skinny legs instead of short, stocky Holmes legs. And somehow you got skin about 8 shades darker than me.

Totally a little bit jealous about the legs and the tan.

You are about 99% exactly like our dad, but then you are also a lot of times the most sensitive.

I am fairly sure everyone has seen you cry a time or two.

Or laughed at the wonderful climatic point in your story telling :)

It literally seems like just yesterday you were in elementary.

And now in the blink of an eye you are off to college.

Up until this point I have never gotten emotional at graduations. Not my own, not Jena's, or my husbands, but for some reason at yours, I was. I don't know if I have just grown up a lot this past year or what. I guess having a baby will do that to you. But I just remember looking at all those kids. Those little babies. Kids I used to babysit (yes...that made me feel really old) and all I could think was "they are way too young." And now they are all being shipped off different directions into the big bad world and it is scary.

You have to make financial decisions on your own, and make new friends, and go shopping on your own, and learn how to navigate college courses and homework and a job...and you just have SO MUCH to learn! And I guess it just made me a little sad to think of them all leaving the comfort and  safety of home and heading out on their own.

But on the plus side, it is so much fun! You get to study and learn more about what you love! You get to start living your life the way you choose to. Making your own decisions. You can even choose to do your dishes backwards like you all make fun of me for doing all the time...because you are growing up and you get to choose to do that. Maybe you will make new friends...and maybe they will be lifelong friends. And with how friendly and outgoing you are I am sure that is a possibility.

So I look forward to watching you over the next few months as you adjust to this new season of life.

I am sure a lot of tears will be shed, but I am sure you will have a lot of fun too.

I am sure you will make a lot of mistakes, just learn from them and grow and move on.

I am sure you will get lonely...and sad. But your family isn't too far away. Ask mama how many trips she made ALLLLLL the way down to Spring Arbor, because I was lonely and scared and couldn't do it. And just think how much closer you are than I was :)

And just think how close Matt and I are. Just a hop and a skip away. You are always welcome to stay with us if you want a little familiar interaction. Plus...I am counting on you so we can get a few date nights out ;)

So if you actually made it all the way through all that...because I know how much you love overly wordy things....just like me ;) I just want to say...

Happy Happy Birthday, Erin! I love you!