I've Got To Work It!

Today is my littlest sister's birthday. I want to use this forum to wish her a happy one! How old is she, lets think...she is 9 years younger than me, and I am 32...that must make her 23! I knew my highschool calculus class would come in handy one day! She now resides in Florida, and is soon moving to Mississippi. She is an artist at Saks Fifth Avenue, making women beautiful every day. She is married to a cool guy who reminds me a bit of my husband, in the sense that he is driven, smart, loves his wife, and valiantly tries (and fails) to give Lucas a run for his money in Halo (that will teach him to try to cheat an 8 year old out of his weekly allowance).

I just wanted to jot a few fun memories of my little sis:

1. I remember when she was born, I of course was 9. Leading up to her birthday mom and dad picked her name out...I thought it was awesome! I remember always starting to tell my friends, but forgetting because back then it was so odd and unique. I was even captured on camera forgetting her name.

2. Mackenzie was a perfect image of a healthy baby; chubby with huge blue eyes and mile long lashes. She was so much fun and had many admirers. I remember when she got really sick as an infant. We took her to the doctor to see what was wrong with her. Mom was incredibly nervous as well as the doctors, and they put that poor baby through tests including a spinal tap because they thought that she had spinal meningitis. I was young, but I knew that it could have been life threatening. We were relieved when all she had was the measles.

3. When Mackenzie was a toddler/little kid, we all loved to dress her up in makeup, mom's bra, wigs...you name it. It was hilarious to get her to dance and repeat funny things in front of the camera.

4. I moved out of the house when she was 8, but I remember coming home and being really excited to be around her. She was always fun, and always genuinely thrilled to be around me. It made me feel good to be her big sister. I always wanted to steal her away, and have her live in my dorm room (hide her in the closet or something).

5. Mackenzie was thrilled when she found out that she was going to have a niece (Brie)! We always found excuses to get together. She was such a huge help for me. She put off becoming too involved with being a teenager and was my little babysitter/house cleaner. I seriously don't know what I would have done with out her. She became an even bigger help when I had Lucas and was single. I remember that I would drop the kids off at mom's house so I could go to school. When I later came home, I came home to a clean house and a homemade cheesecake. Apparently she had made her way to my house, and cleaned the pigsty, and cooked for me!

6. When Mackenzie entered her 'true teenage years', she remained my constant helper and friend...even though she was drop-dead gorgeous, with boyfriends coming out of her ears. We would talk like friends, even though nearly a decade separated us in age. She even was gracious enough to make an appearance at my wedding open house when I married Ed...even though it was prom night. She and Stacy stopped by with their runway dresses, super model bodies, bad-ass up-dos, and pimply faced drooling boyfriends. She now feels bad about this, and apologizes for not blowing off prom. But I was glad to have a couple of beautiful girls make an appearance at my open house. Friends of me and Ed's wondered why mysterious model-superstars came to our open house. From then on I am sure our friends thought we were cool rather than a nerdy computer guy and a geeky accounting chic.

7. Today I relish any time I get to spend with Kenzie. She visits us often, and nobody can get enough of her. Everything that comes out of her mouth is shocking, yet she makes everyone feel special and loved. No moment is a dull moment when Kenze is in your presence. She is pulled in every direction with all of her friends and all of her family hoping to get a piece of her. When she left Utah yesterday, BrieOcea hysterically cried at her imminent departure...almost to the extent that she did when King Kong died.

Happy Birthday Mackenzie! I hope that you realize how much everyone loves you. All of your family would do anything for you. I hope to follow your example and be a better sister/friend/aunt. I know that you are going to do great in Mississippi...just don't forget about us here in Utah! Love You!

Jamie