Today is my sister’s thirty-first birthday, and although I am not to celebrate with her I started the day feeling excitedly like it was my own birthday. Nikki’s thirtieth year was absolutely the most exciting one of our collective lives yet…she had the cutest son of all time, and I got married (a marginally less exciting event, if I do say so myself.)

Seeing Nikki being a mom has once again prepped me to follow in her footsteps (someday…calm down people!) and know that I’ll have someone to ask a million questions a day. She did the same for me when she got married, when went to college, when she played high school soccer, when she learned what movies were the coolest in the 90s…I could go on, and on, and on. She’s pioneered my life for me in ways I will never even be aware of (like learning how to put your hair in a ponytail without brushing it for 30 minutes first, driving a car, using dry shampoo, having a 9-to-5 job, a 401K) that I just take for granted.

She’s also hilarious. And she doesn’t take any bullshit. And she loves a challenge. She doesn’t like to talk through things – she likes to ACTUALLY do things. She’ll try anything once (or probably, ten times) and she likes just about everyone, everything, and nearly all foods. She’s basically my hero packaged into a tinier blonder version of myself. (Please see below. That is a strangers house where Jeff told us to go get on the bear…so obviously, we did.)

I cannot wait to see what 31 has in store for her, but I know it’s going to be a good one. I can feel it in my bones. Every year is an adventure as part of the Palluzzi clan, and as it expands to bigger and better things (read: marriages and babies and headstands and everyone finally into yoga thank goodness) I am excited every time we celebrate anything together. I can’t wait to sing Happy Birthday to you via video chat, Nikita. Love you ‘round the moon.

Today is my sister’s 29th birthday. I feel like two minutes ago we were small, and she was pulling antics like this:

But now she’s all grown up! My sister and I went through times good and bad, great and terrible, but we’re pretty much best friends now. (Right, Nik?) When were little, we shared a room, and though I hated it at the time, I am pretty sure it prepared me for college, for agreeing to things, and also, how to be bossed around (which is pretty important to learn!)

Here we are on the first day of school, with our punk bro, Mikie (Hi, Mikie!) He was also around to gang up on me with Nikki, or to follow us around as we played everything from Fairyland to dog (you can guess who had to go in the dog house!)

I include this photo as evidence that Nikki is still the boss of me (this photo is from the summer of 2011…and I am sure a similar one could be found of the last time I saw her.)

Anyways, Happy Birthday, sorella. I am glad that you are my one and only sister, my twin (only blond and blue eyed and short) and that we get to hang out every once in a while and do yoga and eat Jax and generally entertain ourselves.

I love you!