Day 10: DEVN

Hello, Devn of the fancy Christmas suits! First and foremost, Devn wears the fanciest hats, and I always appreciate seeing what he's sporting on any given day.

Devn has always been a good friend to me. Abby and I have a special relationship as each other's only sister, and from the very beginning of joining our family, he has made room for me in their family, and encouraged my visits. D is always kind to me, even when I know he's teasing me about something. We've had some really great conversations over the years - often about women's health (aka my health class 10 years post-high school) - and I like learning from him. Our family is pretty smart, but Devn has this whole other realm of knowledge on areas I know very little about, so I learn a lot from him. He's also incredibly generous; I think maybe 1/4 of my belongings are from him. Which means their family and I can match often - which is what Abby always wants, so I think it's a win all around!

One of my favorite things, though, is that he fully supports and even requests that Abby & I play tons of Dr. Mario when I visit. I love when he comes and sits and watches us compete - we get really funny the longer we play, and the later it gets, and his laughter is the best gift, he's a great audience to perform for. And when we went and saw a late showing of Pitch Perfect 2 (because my persuading him to watch the 1st one was probably the best thing I ever did for him), he sat and laughed and laughed as Abby & I danced down the aisle of the empty theater during the closing credits. I couldn't ask for a better reaction than that.

 xoxo Dr D!

Day 9: CHLOE

Chloe is my sassy sister. A few years ago, Chris and Jodi brought their family to visit me in DC because their kids are gems and chose my city as their spring break destination (I'm still not sure how I got so lucky, or how I can be lucky enough to make it happen again). We had a blast, but one night I remember particularly well was maybe about mid-way through their trip? We were back at their hotel and the older kids had retired to their other room, while Libby had already fallen asleep and Chloe probably should've been, too. But she and I were having this back-and-forth conversation like we were stylists at a hair salon, gossiping with our clients about so-and-so and what she did and how we "couldn't even" and "she says to me, she says" and "oh no he di-n't!" and so on and so forth. This probably went on for about 10 minutes (8 minutes too long for Chris's patience, but he let us go on), and I couldn't stop laughing about this exchange as it went on. Eventually we ran out of new material and had to give up the game, but man it was so fun while it was happening!

Chloe is sassy. She is strong. And she's got a mind of her own - if she decides something, she sticks with it. That's an ability I do not have, so I fully appreciate her conviction. She can definitely do more push-ups than me, no question, and her tumbling skills are for sure the best in our entire family. I'm seriously amazed at the things she can do, and her willingness to try a new trick or skill. She refuses to trail behind her older siblings and wants to be able to do anything someone older than her can do - age is just a number for her. She truly is an old soul in a young girl's body, and I really love sitting around the firepit with her - after she's done just about everything except strike the match to get the fire going, of course, she's so invested in projects and she will take initiative to make something happen.

But mostly, I love seeing her with her younger cousins (and sister) - there's a caring nature that shines when she's watching over a toddler or younger kid. She lugs them around everywhere, getting them whatever they may want, showing them everything all around them, sitting with them and eating with them and walking slowly enough that they can easily tag along behind - because they always do. That might be one of my favorite things about her - she loves the children, and they love her.

xoxo Chlo!

Day 8: EMILIE

Dear Emilie, our actress and musician. Em has such talent and bravery, I'm in awe of her. She sings beautifully, and she's willing to sing in public, as a soloist, in front of lots of people - that's a gift I do not have but am seriously jealous about. She works on plays and musicals, and she's just a total character. She's a ham for the camera, and as I've been going through my pictures of many years, I kept running into all these close-up selfies she's sneakily taken at different ages and they crack me up! Plus those freckles?!?! {insert heart eyes emoji}

When Emilie was almost 1 year old, I lived with Ben and Laura during my off-semester of college and I nannied for Em while Ben finished his last semester of law school in Iowa. I still think of those months as precious when I consider how much of her life I got to be a part of, even if she doesn't remember it at all. She learned to walk while I was there and we practiced stairs when we were feeling brave. We had breakfast dance parties to Green Day and Kelly Clarkson on VH1, where she learned how to bounce/squat dance. We fell asleep to Baby Einstein videos (I have never once made it through a whole video awake...). We dressed up in matching BYU t-shirts. I loved being an impact in her life and even if she can't remember any part of it, I will still claim 3 months' worth of influence on who she has become and is becoming. And I will be ready for all the Dallas sunset trampoline parties she wants until I can no longer do front flips anymore. And then I'll still gladly cheer her on from the grass.

xoxo Bug-bug!

Day 7: ZOEY

Okay, this girl. Last time I went to Rolla, last Summer, Mom and Dad picked me up from the St. Louis airport and we got back to town a few hours before any of the other siblings, I think. So, after our parents, I was the first family to appear in the house. I walked through the door, and I immediately heard a pitter patter of little feet along with an adorable squeal of "Aunt Kate! Aunt Kate!! Aunt Kate!!!" 3 seconds later, Zoey ran into my arms, squeezing my shoulders in such a tight hug. I hadn't seen her in a while and wondered if she'd even remember me, so that welcome was the sweetest thing I could've asked for. Then she quickly took my hand and led me over to meet her fluffy stuffed animal friends in her room and we all became quite the squad for that afternoon.

I love that Zoey is not shy, and I love how much she loves. Her hugs come freely and powerfully. I'm so glad that Zach and Jamie keep her very aware of her extended family, even if we don't get to see each other often enough, so that when I do see her, she loves me like we're neighbors. Zoey is a free spirit and lives life in breakneck speed - I swear she's a blur more than a solid human girl when I see her. She does what she wants and does it very confidently. She's a super fancy dresser and she's just all girl - even as she's best friends with her boy cousins, she maintains a strong sense of a lady. I love seeing Zoey love her little sister to the point of suffocation and I hope that strong bond remains their whole lives. She's got her dad wrapped around her little finger, and it's so precious to me to see how they get along with one another - she has his volume and spastic excitement and it makes me so happy to see them play off each other. Her super big, open-mouth smile just kills me.

One of my favorite things, though, is watching her with her cousins and how she just follows them around and wants to be with them. She's just such a treat and I'm having so much fun seeing her personality develop. That and she has the most fabulously long, curly hair, amiright??

 xoxo!

Day 6: JODI

Hiiiii Jodi!!!!

Ok, so I have a bone to pick with Jodi - she's been a Barlow for 2/3 of my life, basically... and I have, what, 1 picture with her?!?! What gives, Jo?? ( I do have this really great close-up of you eating a mutton leg, though - but I assumed maybe you wouldn't want that on here...)

Jodi has seriously been as big an influence in my life as all of my biological siblings. Isn't she just a dream? She always has chips and salsa at the ready, as well as stove-popped popcorn. She has opened her home to me any time I invite myself over or any time my parents went out of town and shipped me off to them. She lets me borrow her necklace and then hides it in my suitcase as the best surprise when I'm unpacking. She remembers my birthday every year (so do you, Chris, if you want credit - but we all know it's because of Jodi). I once commented that gift giving isn't my love language, and then realized that I absolutely feel loved every time she sends me something or offers me a gift, so apparently she knows me better than I know myself...which actually sounds about right.

Selfishly, my favorite thing about Jodi is how she makes me feel like I'm absolutely the best person on the planet. She really believes in me and sees the best in me and makes me feel like my best. That whole family is one big pump-me-up, and she leads the charge. She genuinely laughs at my jokes. She tells me I'm pretty and smart and capable - every girl needs that support. I love when Chris calls me and I hear her voice in the background, shouting, "we love Aunt Kate!!" That's actually exactly how Jodi rolls - she works in the background, making sure everything is running correctly and smoothly, ensuring everyone feels loved and cared for, and making the biggest mark on everyone without the need for a microphone or platform. She's the brains and the beauty in that Barlows WI branch organization, and I'm so glad I barely remember life before she was part of the family.

xoxo Jo!

Day 5: ELLEE

Can we talk about Ellee, please?

Ellee is so helpful and sweet, and I feel like she was the first niece I really got to see go through every phase of her life so far. I've been lucky enough to be a part of her life for so many holidays and general vacations and cross-country moves and all sorts of stuff, and it's been so fun to watch her grow up. She's gone from a precious little baby girl to a darling toddler to a sweet southern Elle Rae to a proper midwestern Elizabeth and now she's exploring life as a tough east coaster - and not letting it steal her light-up-a-room smile willing nature.

While I've seen her in a lot of times in her life, what's been new and fun is watching her special bond with her baby sister. She and her brothers all love little Brynn so much, but Ellee has been particularly tender and loving with her, and I absolutely melt at the way they smile at each other. I'm so excited to watch that relationship grow with them as they get older; I know Brynn has a really great example ahead of her in Ellee. Ellee works hard in school, has a lovely voice, loves to read, and is generally up for doing anything that Abby and I might be doing at any given moment. This has been extra fun as she now is old enough to indulge in our New Year's traditions of yahtzee and fancy drinks.

And while she got a bad cold while I was hanging out with her and her family on Thanksgiving day and I hated seeing her feel sick, I don't regret getting time to just snuggle with her on the couch while watching football games in the afternoon. Perhaps that's selfish, but I won't apologize - these kidlets won't stay little forever, and I'm glad to know they'll still sit close to me and snuggle even as they get to be 10 years old and maybe too cool for things like that. Thanks for still thinking I'm kind of fun and cool, Ellee, please never stop thinking that!

xoxo.

Day 4: DAD

Okay, Sunday feels like a great day to talk about Dad, because he kind of fits in my memory as a Sunday kind of guy. His example as a leader in our church all through my life made a great impact in my desire to be a good example to the people around me. Our fellow worshippers loved him and often told me how great they thought he is - and all I could really do was agree, there wasn't really anything to dispute there.

I visited Mom & Dad in London this past October, and the last night I was there, I watched football with Mom and FaceTimed with Abby and both parents, and then I fully expected to go to sleep around the reasonable time of 10:30pm. 3 hours later, Dad and I finished our really great chat at the unreasonable hour of 1:30am, and I've never regretted that because I still often think about our conversation and the many things we discussed - and mostly how I love how easy it is to talk to him, about anything. But especially the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Both Mom & Dad have instilled and strengthened in me a sense of who I am and helped me really personalize my relationship with God and Christ, so it's somewhat difficult to talk of the one parent without fully recognizing the other. But Dad has always had a way with helping me figure out what exactly I believe and why I believe it. I've honestly thought back to that long midnight discussion so many times, and each time it buoys me up in my belief in myself and my abilities, and in my hope for both the future and my future.

Dad is my advocate, he's my support, and he's my buddy. Mom was likely annoyed more than pleased through most of my last visit because we maybe might have teased her a little too much too often (I truly am sorry about that, Mom), but we have a lot of fun together and I'm really glad I have a Dad I can say that about. I think my favorite thing about Dad at the moment is that he's incredibly smart and wise - and he absolutely makes me feel like I'm the same. I love getting his insights on different things, and I really love that he makes me feel like my own insights are valued. He shows such appreciation for my talents, and for my potential talents. I feel confident in expressing myself and in trying new things because I feel like Dad already believes in me as I am and as I can be. It's been a powerful quality that I'm only just now recognizing to put words to about him. One of his greatest gifts is the ability to see the gifts and potential in others. Particularly in his kids. It's a gift I am particularly thankful he uses toward me.

xoxo!