My #11's...

So... we are back in school and I just have to say. It has been one busy semester so far. We are one month in and this past week felt like finals week. You know how finals week feels when you are so tired because of lack of sleep from studying and working and going to class and then you are malnourished because you don't have time to buy groceries and under-exercised because you don't have time for that either. Well... add a football game at west side to all those feelings and you have my week in a nutshell. I had 3 tests. Clark had 1 and it was no fun!!!!

Now... on a lighter note. I did get to go and celebrate my Addie's 14th birthday with her on Thursday. We watched her game and gave her cupcakes and then we went to JD's Senior Homecoming game. I just have to say I have some amazing siblings. Whenever I see or hear the things that they accomplish I am always so proud to be their sister.

JD-
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To hear about my brother being famous. He has a great football team this year that he is the quarterback of and it is so fun to watch him play, but I need to tell you the real reason I am proud I am JD's sister.

From the moment JD was born he has: loved loved loved sports and had a defective body. Now when I say defective body I do not say it lightly although it is funny to say your brother has a defective body. He really does though. He has had numerous knee and ear surgeries and he has had to have a surgery to extract a tumor from his face. Yes folks... his face. And when I say JD has loved loved loved sports. I do not say that lightly either. He has played basketball, soccer, football, baseball, ran track and wrestled. He has loved everything about them too.

As the oldest sister I have had to sit through numerous ballgames and also a lot of surgeries and with everyone there has been heartache and rejoicing. JD has had a constant battle with his body and has never felt completely good. He has never had a day he hasn't endured some type of pain. His body, like I said, is defective. I have watched JD though and he has grown through all the trials with his body and he still plays. He still loves every second of every game. He still would choose shooting a ball or scrimmaging over most things and I think that is amazing. I think it is amazing that I am related to someone so strong. He is absolutely unstoppable. And it isn't just his victory over his body that I have been amazed with. It is his ongoing desire to be good. He is a good kid. He is kind and funny and smart and good and that is why I am so proud to be related to #11.

Addie-
I have never ever had the pleasure of meeting someone as pleasant and kind as my sister. She is one of the best people I know. I got the opportunity to watch her play volleyball a week ago and wow can she hit that ball. She is very athletic but I noticed something after the game. She went up to the line judge and thanked her. What player have you ever seen do this? Go up to a line judge and thank her. I have never seen a volleyball player do that nor have I seen a football player thank the chain gang either. I was so proud to see my little #11 do that.

Besides being kind and practically perfect, Addie is the most naturally beautiful girl I know. She can even pull off braces. She is also so funny and so fun to hang out with. She is always up for an adventure and she is the most creative girl you will ever meet. She has also gotten her Young Women's Medallion and is very faithful in reading her scriptures every night.

I am so happy to be able to know someone of such a high caliber. She is one of the most genuine people I know and I am proud to be her sister.

Brigham-
The more I watch Brigham grow up, the more I like him. He is one of the funniest boys I know. He is extremely smart too. He is tight end on his little football team and also #11. He is great and his team has lost all their games but he is so hopeful and happy that he gets to play football. (He makes touchdowns like their going out of style too.) I have a story that I love about Brigham though. One night Clark, JD, Addie, Brigham and I were sitting at the house and I suggested we play 500 outside. Brigham was it during one point of the game and calls out "mystery box" and when I get the ball he calls out freeze ray. (Hello, I didn't know that the rules have been revamped! You seriously can do that these days now... call freeze ray and get away with it. So I was frozen a whole turn.) Well... JD soon becomes it and calls "mystery box" then Brigham gets it and he says "glue bum". Brigham had to sit on the wet grass and the rest of the game everyone was getting glue bummed. It was pretty intense. At the end of the game Brigham was way mad because he lost and was getting pushed around by all of us bigger kids and he ran into the house. Well a few weeks later we were talking about that game and Brigham said, "When you have kids, I'm going to play 500 and give them glue bums all the time." To which I replied, "I'll tell mom." And he said, "she can't do anything about it, I'll be bigger than all of you."

There are 2 things I love about this story. 1- I love that Brigham pictures being an uncle to my kids and playing with them in the yard. I love that he wants to be an uncle that plays with his nieces and nephews. He is going to be a great uncle someday. 2- I love that he is so optimistic about the future and that someday he will be bigger than all of us. I hope he is. I will always be proud to be his big sister.

As you can tell, I love my family. I love who I get to spend forever with and even when tests wreak havoc on my week, I can find the good in everything and love the life I've been given.