Big sister brag

Oh, hi.

Yes, I know I've been gone for about two weeks. But I promise I have a good excuse.
I've been to Maryland and back!

In other words, I went to visit my family.
In case you haven't read any of my other posts,
here's the only thing you really need to know about them.

THEY'RE AWESOME. 

This trip was the first time I've been back to Maryland since the holidays.
I made the trip solo- The Lieutenant couldn't come with me because he was working, while I am still gainfully UN-employed.
I made the trip because my little sister Audrey was in a play and I wanted to see it. I introduced you to Audrey here but in case you don't remember, here she is

In costume of course!
The play was called "Meet the Creeps" -- kind of a parody of The Adam's Family. Audrey's character was Tarantula Creeps (think a more friendly Morticia Addams).

Allow me to brag a little bit:

While I must laugh and admire the ability of Audrey's school to pick the most ridiculous plays year after year (last spring their production was called Wagon Wheels West), each year Audrey finds a way to shine through whatever ridiculous show they decide on. 

She is clearly talented.

Here's one thing I've learned throughout my time in the theatre:

Acting can't be faked. You can't pretend to be a character, you have to actually BE the character.

The audience can immediately tell the difference. 

While others on stage knew their lines, she knew her character. 

While others recited text, she made the text her own. 

And unlike most of the people on the stage, Audrey became her character.

I'm not saying the play suddenly turned into Shakespeare, but I am saying that Audrey made it great. 

( As a side note, there were others in the show who also showed potential. I'd love to see what these kids could do if they actually got their hands on something worth performing. *crosses fingers* maybe next year?)

When Aud was younger, she was EXTREMELY shy.

As in, she refused to even speak in front of strangers, let alone sing.

Getting up on stage? Forget it. 

She ran away crying when it was her cue in any given Christmas Pageant. 

My mom often said that she thought Audrey somehow missed the performance gene that the rest of us seemed to be born with. I guess in reality, it just took her a little bit longer to come out of her shell.

But now that she has, it's obvious that she's got it.

Curtain call: baby sis, star of the show. 

Yeah, I can brag on that. 

Meet La Madre

My mom came to visit last week!

In this post I introduced my sisters. Now it's time to meet my mom!
This picture is actually kind of old- taken during my sophomore year of college- but it's one of my favorites.
 This is Lorraine. She's awesome.
People always say we look alike. I'd have to agree.
She actually never wears her hair like this- usually it's super curly but like I said, I just really like this picture. She is a pretty tough cookie. She is also very honest and straightforward and usually has some good advice up her sleeve. I like to think that she did a great job raising her children despite the fact that we always outnumbered her and wrapped my dad around our finger. She has instilled in me so many important values- everything from the disdain of jarred pasta sauce to the love of reading.
I owe Lorraine a lot.

While my mom was visiting last week, we took a road trip.

Here are the highlights:

 we decided to take a road trip - the gps took us on the most back-woods route known to man - we went to visit my cousin melissa, who just happened to be in the area! - did I mention, she's pregnant with her first baby! - then mom and melissa looked pretty - the end

I've decided that having your mother come visit you in your own home for the first time is a little bit weird.

I mean, I had an apartment in college, but it was different back then. My mom would stop by, but she never visited. She never stayed the night. I guess it's just different because even though I was living at college, my real home was still with her and my dad. 

But this is my home now.

So yeah, it was definitely kind of weird. 

But also really fun.

My Sister, My Friend

I was thinking just today
About how we used to play
Barbie dolls and make-up,
Tea parties, dress up...

Sisters are the best.
Maybe I'm a little biased because I grew up in a house of all girls and never had a brother.
But there's something special about a bond between girls who have seen each other through life's ups and downs. They're the friends you never out-grow and the enemies you usually make up with five seconds after the fight started.

I have five sisters.
Together we make an inseparable group of six.
Two were born from the same mother and father as I was.
Two joined the family and have been there through thick and thin.
One is part in law and in love.

Meet my sisters:

 Kellie is the oldest.
She's the mama hen-- the voice of wisdom.
She looks out for the rest of us.
She's a great listener
But she has to be
Because she's the big sister.

Bean's given name is actually Brenda

But nobody calls her that. 

To us, she's just Bean.

She's a wild child. 

And a United States Marine.

She's been on a ship in the Mediterranean Sea for the past 11 months.

But she's coming home tomorrow. 

Manda cries if she steps on a bug.

She has a tender heart.
But it's part of what makes her so amazing.
She's always been a loyal friend. 

She was around long before The Lieutenant and I started dating

Now she's my sister 

I know she'll there for me forever.

Amanda marches to her own rhythm.

She's a free spirit.

And she's always been my better half.

We balance each other's strengths and weaknesses.

Even though she's younger than I am, 

In many ways, I look up to her.

Audrey is the baby sister. 

People always ask us if we're twins.

But actually, she's 6 years younger than I am. 

She's kind of an old soul, 

wise for her years.

I guess she's learned from some of our mistakes.

And I'm glad for that. 

It's late and I should go
But I can't hang up the phone

Until I tell you

What I don't tell you enough...

I remember when I was younger my mom used to tell me, "Friends come and go, but sisters are forever."

I guess I never really understood what that meant until I became an adult.
In high school everyone is your best friend.
In college you have a group of best friends.
But when you become an adult, you realize who your best friends really are.

And mine are my sisters.

I love you all.
Wouldn't trade you for anything.

Even though at times it seemed

We were more like enemies

I'd do it all again

My sister, my friend.

Most of the pictures above were taken by Donna Good. Like them? Check out her site, www.alifeinfocusphotography.com