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!

Day 3: ZACH

Being around Zach is kind of like watching a variety show: it's very loud and really exciting, often accompanied by fireworks, sometimes quite random, and I find myself smiling and laughing the entire time. 

When he and the other two Barlow brothers are all together, I gladly revert to my 7-year-old self and just follow them around everywhere, cry-laughing at all they say and do, content to just be the audience to their hilarity. Contrary to the middle child stigma, he's a star - nobody puts Zach in the corner. He's just so quick on the draw. Sometimes when I lack a witty retort, I think, "what would Zach say?" And when I play trivia, I usually brag about how my brother is the king of trivia and he basically knows everything. So take that, everyone else!

With Zach, everything is exciting, and everything is a party. And basically every picture I have of him shows that. He's such a good host and I love that his home is always open for a palooza at any moment.

Zach has also become such a sweetheart with his little family of girls. I've always known him to be really funny and witty - but I'm also really loving this tender side, too. He adores his princesses and they completely adore him back. 

He's smart, he's stylish, he's sometimes completely silly. I just love him.

Day 2: GRACE

This little babe started my (not used enough by the little kidlets with their little kidlet lisps) nickname Aunt Cake. If I recall, it was a number of years ago, when Ben's family and I were in Utah, visiting the parentals, and she couldn't quite say Kate, so she ended up calling me Aunt Cake, and I basically wanted her to address me by name every second after we noticed it. We also got delicious ice cream shakes one night and Laura and I somehow miraculously got them all home balanced in a box without completely spilling everywhere. But that's another story.

Grace is also a youngest sibling kindred spirit with me. I still often think of the picture Laura sent me once when she found her one morning sitting in their closet reading a book by the light of the closet overhead bulb - my heart grew three sizes hearing that. When she was a little smaller, her flyaway hair and flushed cheeks hearkened back to some pictures of me at that age and I loved having that connection with her - my own little mini-me for a brief moment in life.

She's always been quick to sit on my lap or near me, and I'm crossing my fingers that doesn't end any time soon. She's a soft-spoken ball of sweetness and she sees the good in everything around her. She's a total cheeser for the camera, which kills me every time.

She's also killer at volleyball (!!!) and I can't wait to get to one of her games when the season starts again! And did I tell you about the time we went bowling and she just grabbed the bowling ball, walked up to the line, and totally crushed it, first time? Girl is fearless.

xoxo Gracie Girl.

Day 1: LIBBY LOO

Let's start with this little cutie. Mainly because I came across this picture and remembered how much I love it. And how much I loved the moment. It was during my annual Walworth County Fair visit (the term annual is being used liberally here, so don't try to correct me); Chloe and Libby were the only ones brave enough to tackle the ferris wheel with me and Chris - and the views of Elkhorn from the top are breathtaking (the term breathtaking is also being used liberally here). Libby sat exactly right next to me. And we made it through the swaying ride together. And later that weekend, we had a bonfire in the backyard, and Libby fell asleep on my lap, and I wanted to die of sweetness, it was so precious.

This girl is just a bundle of contagious smiles, and I'm so into her. She's vivacious and she's the youngest and she plays the part so well. I feel a kindred spirit with her in that role, though she plays the starring role more than I think I did, and she's hilarious in that spotlight. I love that she gets along with all of her siblings and that she already knows what she likes and how she likes it. She's got such great one-liners and when I can spend a whole evening just making her laugh, I'll always take that opportunity.

I just wish she would stay little forever, but I wished that for all her older siblings, too, and they cruelly ignored my wishes, so I'm steeling myself for her following their example. But if she wouldn't mind putting it off just a bit longer, at least, that'd be okay with me.

xoxo, little girl.

25 Days of Barlows

Dear Family -

Since you're basically the only ones who read this blog (you can pronounce "read" in the present or past tense, it means the same thing these days), I'm using this as a space for a more specific, special spot to take on a project I came up with, which I think perhaps you'll like.

If you count the numbers of our immediate family members (parents, kid siblings, spouses, and kid siblings' kids), you'll find that we are at a perfect 25 (I really hope that's right, I did the math a number of times, so if I'm forgetting anyone, we can just say it's me). And I thought it would be fun to document my feelings about everyone - don't worry, it's all positive. So I'm doing what I like to call the 25 Days of Barlows! It's my Christmas gift to my blog. So, basically a gift to myself. I know, I'm very thoughtful.

I've found that daily goals are not a strength of mine, but if I can figure out how to brush my teeth daily - twice even! - I can figure out how to write a cutesy blog post daily as well. Nothing too long or fancy, mainly just a couple pictures, perhaps a memory or experience that comes to mind at the exact moment, and a comment or two. Maybe longer depending on how my mental juices are flowing -  who knows, really, this is as much of an adventure for me as it is for you! I guess we'll all just see where it takes us!

Are you guys in for this ride with me? It starts tomorrow, so I hope so! I've picked family members at random, so you'll just have to come check it daily to see if I've thought about you yet (ha!). Feel free to comment with your own stories and positive feelings about the person of the day! I like to hear your stories about each other as much as I like to hear my own, maybe even more so, so I'd love it if this became a more community post rather than just me rambling on...we all know I'm prone to rambling, and it can get quite boring if no one stops me. Like right now! Here I go! Can't stop won't stop!!

Ok, I'll stop. But come back tomorrow, and let's start celebrating us! Because if the Barlows are anything, they're definitely meek and humble, so we certainly earned this attention right now.

xoxo,
kate