Sunday, March 20, 2011

An Ode to Sisters

This is my sister Julia.
She's fantastic.

We used to fight a lot, now we only fight occasionally - and they're not even
really big fight-fights they're more like 'spats' because they can be diffused in the moment. Anyway back to Julia:
Julia is the most loyal girl you could ask for. She sticks to her guns no matter what and speaks her mind (whether you ask for it or not). ;) But I can say from experience that when I've ignored her advice in the past, it always comes back to bite me in the butt. I know this goes without saying but she's gorgeous. The smile, the eyes, the cute button nose. When she turns 16 I'm gonna have to beat the boys off with a louisville slugger. One last thing about Julia, she's not "super-deep" very often, but she always listens to me, and I really love her for that. Thanks Jules.

This is my sister Anna.
She's one-of-a-kind.

I'm so grateful to have her in my life, I think one year we literally had a sleepover EVERY SINGLE Friday, without exception. She knows all my secrets, all my weaknesses, all my fears, and anything else there is to know about Ellie. One of my favorite things about Anna is just plain and simple, it's just that I have so much fun when I'm with her. So much friggin' fun! Being with Anna means effortless laughter, memories I wouldn't trade for the world, and smiling till my face hurts. Another thing about Anna that I love so much is her sincerity, she means everything she says. I can always count on her to be honest and earnest in everything she does. This spring break I know that we will honestly have so much fun -

our heads might actually explode. Anna is like a favorite song. I never get tired of her, there are oodles (yes, I said oodles) of memories attached, and she's positively irreplaceable.

This is my sister Charlene.

She is indescribable.

But I'll do my best: beautiful, witty, genuine, bright, humble, brilliant, artistic, inspired, clever, loyal, and incredible. I don't know what I did to deserve this girl as a friend. Sometimes I actually measure my actions with a "Charlene Ruler". If the thing I'm about to seems to me like something Charlene wouldn't like me doing - I either don't do that thing, or do it anyway and regret it later. I am so glad this girl is in my life. I don't know what I'd do without her.

This is my sister Hannah.
She is everything.

Hannah, Hannah, Hannah. I really love this girl. We've had ups and downs (most if not all were my fault). I feel like the crappy boyfriend and she's the girl that gives me more chances anyway. Haha. But anyway, she looks rather somber in this picture, but she is usually an optimist. I like this picture because this is from the summer she came with me to Santa Barbara to do surf camp. It was the best. Hannah is amazing, I feel so comfortable around her and she has helped me slowly start to realize something - it really doesn't matter what other people think. If being a TOTAL dork-pants makes you happy, then so be it. Be the dork-pants that you are. Play Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mega Man, Chrono Trigger, Resident Evil, Left 4 Dead, Final Fantasy, Meat Boy, and Pokemon - ESPECIALLY Pokemon. Love you Thomas. Don't change.

This is my sister Miriam.
She is perfect.

Do you think I'm kidding? Oh. Ok. Just try to find a single thing wrong with her. What's that you say? It's impossible? You can't find a single flaw with this lovely, charming, flawless girl?! Yeah. That's what I thought. But in all seriousness, I thank my lucky stars that a Wonderchild like her exists. She really is a Wonderchild. She sings, she acts, she paints, she writes, she teaches me everyday that teenage girls can in fact, be this awesome.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

"Smiling's my favorite."

I know it's been said, and I know that it's a cliche, but cliches are only cliches because usually they're true: there is immeasurable power in smiling.
If you know me then you know that I smile a lot - maybe too much. But what you don't know is that sometimes I smile just for the sake of smiling. I don't smile because I'm happy, or amused, or trying to be polite. No. I smile because it's never wrong. Smiles are one-size-fits all. All people, all places, all situations are always improved with a smile. When I smile I feel like everything is O.K. for a second. It's like the universal band-aid for a bad day.


Smile at someone today, for no reason at all. Even if it creeps them out a little bit. :)

P.S.
This picture I took of my friends little sister is candid. Oh yeah. That happened.


Friday, March 11, 2011

I made a cake.

To be perfectly honest, I did not make a cake. My friend Charlene made me a cake. But the phrase "I made a cake" signifies an accomplishment. Right now that's about all I am aiming for, one small accomplishment after another. Surviving this week was an accomplishment for me.

Oh, I also made a blog, it's a little rough right now but things will pick up here soon.
Alright. I'm gonna go have me some cake.