Happy Sweet 16, Lydia!

My baby sister turns 16 today!  {That makes me feel incredibly old.}  

 {sorry for the blurry photos...it was early.}

I stopped by this mornng to drop off a birthday girl ribbon for her to wear to school today.  I'm not sure if she'll wear it all day, it might not be "cool", but she humored me at least! 

16 years ago today I was wearing a striped henly.  I always remember what I was wearing the day she was born.  I also remember hearing Lightning Crashes by Live on my pink plastic radio while I got ready that morning.  Somehow it seemed fitting in a weird, creepy, scary kind of way.  {for those of you who don't remember, there is a placenta mentioned in that song.  ewwww} 

It's hard to believe it's been 16 years, but she's grown into such a beautiful young lady, and I'm so proud to be her big sister.  

I need your help...

                                                     Source: None via jennifer on Pinterest

Good morning, friends!  I'm hoping you might be able to help me with something.  My little sister is turning Sweet 16 in just a few short weeks, and I've been racking my brain trying to figure out something special to give her for her birthday.  Do you have any ideas?  I know many of you are Etsy sellers and/or diy-ers, so I thought you might have something brilliant up your sleeves. 

A little about her:
She's girlie, and beautiful, loves sparkles and shine.
She's a little fashionista for sure. 
She's also a fabulous athlete and is playing Varsity Soccer as a Sophomore.
She loves dinosaurs, and knows how to be a goofball and have fun.
She's incredibly smart, and responsible.
She's grown up way too fast.

I want to get her something that will be a keepsake, but useful too.  I keep thinking some kind of jewelry, but I'm not dead set on that.  I think I just picture her going off to college in a couple of years, and feel like I want her to have a little piece of me close to her. 

Any ideas?  I'd love help with general ideas, or if you have links to specific things you think would be a good fit, that's great too!  

Thanks so much, in advance for your help!  

Pumpkin Patch!!!

In case you didn't know, I LOVE going to the pumpkin patch!  Every year, my mom and sisters and I venture out to the Powell Pumpkin Patch near Louisburg, Kansas.  On the way we stop at the Louisburg Cider Mill for cider donuts.  Oh, they are sooooo good!  Weekend before last, we took advantage of a beautiful Sunday afternoon to go pumpkin hunting!  It's always funny, because there are all kinds of families with little kids picking out pumpkins, but I don't think anyone gets as excited as the four of us! 

Each of the girls picked out a pumpkin to carve, so that accounted for two pumpkins.  We brought home 15 plus some goards!  We love seeking out the unusual ones.  As Lydia put it, you just know when you've found the "one".  The light shines on it just right and its like it's just you and the pumpkin in the field....or in mom and my case, you and your many perfect pumpkins! 

The variety of pumpkins that they planted this year had rediculous stems on them.  I guess they must have got tired of people breaking the stems off! 

Things to remember next year:

Bring a knife to cut pumpkins from the vine.

Stay calm and walk to the back of the patch and work your way to the front.  {this would certainly save us from lugging all those pumkins further than neccessary}

Bring water.

 

I'm back!

Sorry I've been MIA for the last week!  For some reason, I could just not get myself organized.  I am determined to be more on the ball this week, in more ways than one. 

I am spending today getting ready for the week and enjoying some quiet time at home.  We just got back from the store, where I loaded up on healthy eats.  I'm determined to get back on track with my eating. Jon's getting ready to watch the Chiefs game, and I'm going to catch up on some blogs and prepare something new and exciting that this lady and I have up our sleeves! 

I leave you with a pic from yesterday.  Jon and I ran the Jared Coones Memorial Pumpkin Run.  My mom, stepdad and sisters all participated too.  It was freezing!  35 degrees at the start.  brrrrrrrrrrrr.  I finished in 34 min, 36 sec.  No world record, but I'm happy with that.  Especially considering I haven't ran for weeks, and I didn't walk at all!  Jon came in at 27 min, 15 sec.  He hurt his knee though.  I'm hoping it heals itself and doesn't give him many problems.  

Happy 4th of July!

This morning I ran my first 5k! 

 

I've been running for a while, but have never ran a race til this morning.  I did the Lenexa Freedom Run with my step-dad, sister and some family friends.  It was lots of fun!  

As they played the star spangled banner before the race began, I stood there with my hand over my heart and looked around at Old Town Lenexa and all the great americans lined up to start the run.  I got a little choked up thinking about how great our nation is and how proud I am to be an american.  

This afternoon we went to a barbeque at my mom's and this evening we're going to go watch some fireworks.  I always really look forward to the fireworks, my favorite part of the 4th!

I hope you all are having happy and safe Independence Days!  

Happy Birthday America!  

{Me and Lydia before the race}

Happy Birthday Lydia!

Fourteen years ago today, I became a big sister.  My beautiful baby sister, Lydia came screaming into the world at 12:06 in the afternoon.  I am continuously amazed at what a lovely young woman she has become.  Happy Birthday Lyds!  I love you sweetie!

Here she is on her 8th birthday...seems like yesterday!