A Year Older

Good Sunday morning! Yesterday was my sister’s birthday and we had planned to go to lunch on Friday, but the weather was so nasty and time was very limited. I think we are going this coming week instead. I have her gift and card ready, but of course I can’t show you, because she hasn’t received it yet. She reads my blog and I hate to ruin the surprise!

What I would like to do and of course, I’m a day late, is poke a little fun. She’s been poking at me since we were little. She is 2-1/2 years younger than me actually. If any of you have younger siblings, you’ll understand. Carrie (oh yes my mother named us those similar sounding names) would pick at me, until I would break and go after her. Then she would run to mom and whine “Sherry’s picking on me.” Well guess who always got into trouble – it sure wasn’t Carrie! Still, to this day, I have pencil lead in my thigh and scares from scissors being jabbed at me. I can vividly remember her chasing me around a table wielding a hammer in her hand. She wanted to crack my head open and see what was inside.

All kidding aside, I have a wonderful sister. She always steps up when someone in the family needs anything, and is a doting daughter and aunt. Her heart is big and her family ties strong. She helps my aunt on a daily basis and keeps track of mom’s comings and goings. We don’t spend as much time together as we should, but when we do – there are always laughs to be had. There have been many times when I’ve had medical emergencies with either my husband or the girls, and it was always Carrie that I called. She has helped me get my husband to the hospital, watched the girls when I needed help and has even puppy sat.

Just recently I ran a picture of her with Katie, and I think it deserves a rerun today.

It was taken at a banquet that we attended with Katie.

AND here’s a picture of both of us together. Carrie is on the left. I really don’t remember how old we were, but notice how our mother always dressed us alike. The same outfits, even down to our black patent leather shoes. Tell me honestly, who would take a child to a race track in black patent leather shoes – well our mother, of course! It even looks like I have one of those Toni Home Perms.

When we were kids, we had a pedal car. It was always painted with the number of our uncle’s race car. This picture always cracks me up! My cousin, Billy, is driving the car and there is Carrie all poised on the front like she is the Race Queen, ya know the trophy girl! Carrie is actually 6 weeks than Billy.

This next photo is all four of us kids. I say all four of us, because we grew up with our cousins, Billy and Shannon. We were always together when we were kids and over time have drifted apart. However, even though the years have changed us all, we still have one tie that binds us all – we are family!

This picture was taken Christmas morning and we are all sitting with our great-grandmother. To my knowledge, this is the only picture that exists of us with her, and it was a rare occasion that she was with us that morning. Going left to right, Billy, Grandma, Shannon, Carrie and me. I don’t know why I was always rolling my eyes to the other side. Someone probably said something to me!

Well Carrie, I hope you had a fabulous day yesterday and I love ya, Sis! Happy Birthday!!!