Thirty Years of Bean

Happy Birthday, Jacq! I thought since the main purpose of my blog is to make Jacqui laugh, that on this, her 30th birthday, I should dedicate an entire entry to her. Here are 30 things you should know about my little sister:

1. As the baby of the family Jacqui was spoiled. She totally admits it so I can say it without malice.


2. In high school Robin and I took a train to visit my brother at college in Idaho. My parents didn't want Jacqui to feel left out so they flew her with them to Florida. She went to Disney World and we had grody barbecue chicken on a train.


3. When Jacqui was little she crashed her Big Wheel at the bottom of the huge hill by our culdesac. Our neighbors found her and carried her home all bloody. She ended up getting stitches on her forehead.


4. About the same time she consistently nicked the other side of her forehead on the kitchen counters as she came running around the corners. With her two sided scabby forehead she looked like she was growing horns. We continued to point it out years after the scars healed.


5. Jacqui was born in Connecticut but we moved to Colorado when she was nine months. When she started talking she had a New Jersey accent: whautah (water), qwuartah (quarter).


6. In high school Jacqui was a freshman when I was a senior. We took two classes together: weight training and painting.


7. Fifteen years later Jacqui still brings up the fact that she almost failed painting because I made her tardy almost every day.


8. After I left for college, my parents taught Jacqui how to drive 'in case of emergency'. She was 14, maybe 15, but most certainly too young to have a permit.


9. My parents didn't fight Jacqui on clothing issues. She totally wore tank tops and sleeveless dresses throughout high school. I'm not jealous because I've never had the arms to go sleeveless and she totally did in high school.


10. Jacqui broke up with her high school boyfriend because he tried to french kiss her. Who know she'd end up liking it so much?


11. Jacqui likes to read. I know if Jacqui likes a book, I'll like it too. She is my favorite book suggester.


12. Jacqui likes to gossip about fictional characters, which is another reason I like to read the same books she reads.
    


13. Often times when I call and ask what she is doing, she says she is reading and resting.


14. I know I just said she is resting every time I call, but really Jacqui is always busy doing something. Usually she is doing something nice for someone. If she is resting I know it is because she really needs it.


15. Jacqui is a registered dietitian. If I get a disease that requires a special diet, she is the first one I'm calling.


16. Jacqui's kryptonite is potato chips. As an RD you'd think she'd know better, but kryptonite is kryptonite.


17. In college Jacqui took a sewing class and discovered she LOVED it. I think this surprised everyone because growing up the only time we heard our mom swear was while our mom was sewing. I guess we all figured it wasn't in our genes. She's really good.
    


18. Jacqui makes her family Halloween costumes every year. Last year she and Kraig were eggs and bacon. Jacqui was pregnant at the time and her belly was the yolk.


19. Jacqui almost got engaged before her mission. The guy was a real tool -- he totally mocked me about the foreign films I liked. Who does that? I'm glad she married Kraig.


20. Jacqui served in Ogden, Utah while she waited for her visa to come through for Venezuela.


21. Every night she was in Venezuela she would wash her feet before getting in bed. I've heard she still does this. I've tried it and it is really refreshing.


22. Kraig is a professional chef, but Jacqui is a really good cook, too. Just last week I called to chat and she mentioned whipping up a yummy Mango Skillet Chicken with rice for dinner. Yeah, that's right, just 'whipped it up'.
    
    
23. Jacqui can always make me laugh.


24. This one time when we were camping she wrote, 'Uncle Fuzzy smells' on our young nephew's magnadoodle and left it beside him in his stroller. I still giggle when I think about Jacqui going about her business trying not to laugh as we waited for Scotty to find the note.


25. Jacqui and Kraig are perfect for each other. I'd say the secret was both their sweet temperments, but I know how Jacqui can be in the morning. They balance each other well.


26. Jacqui is a fun mom to her three beautiful blond boys. She makes up her own words to songs and sings them to her boys. Her kids have begun making their own words up to songs, too. I witnessed this loudly the other day on the phone.


27. Jacqui found some dress up clothes at a garage sale recently and got them for Little Miss. Little Miss was over the moon.
    


28. Jacqui gave Big Miss's phone number to her home teacher (he's 16). They texted for 6 hours the first day and Big Miss has talked of very little else since. I'm fine with Jacqui setting Big Miss up with young men an hour and a half away.


29. Jacqui is a pretty forgiving person. There have been many times I've needed to have righteous indignation on her behalf because she's already moved past some one's slight or offense.


30. Jacqui is a strong, intelligent, wonderful woman and I'm so glad she is my sister.

Happy Birthday Bean! I hope you have a wonderful day.

Keep smiling and remember to be happy.