For the Birthday Girl!

Chelsea J'Linn,
As my oldest, dearest friend, you hold a very special place in my heart. On your birthday, I find myself remembering all of the fun times we have had. Here are some things that have popped into mind today:
1. Learning to ride our bikes together without training wheels on Wanda Drive
2. Setting up Kool-aid stands and being pissed that no one ever came down your street
3. Your mom sending us into Jack & Jill by ourselves when we were 4...and we always bought toys and coloring books. I remember thinking she had endless amounts of money because she gave us a check that, in our minds, could be written for any amount.
4. Salamander hunting in the water meters
5. Getting so excited when you would leave town, because I got to go feed Glo-Bars
6. Schnapps, the dog that, to me, is still alive
7. Seeing your Christmas tree still up in June
8. Seeing Zack right after he was born, and shortly thereafter being traumatized when Kyle thought it was okay for me to ride the Mousetrap.
9. Feeling so special, because your mom would take me to deliver the invitations for your surprise birthday parties
10. Kyle throwing me into the pool at one such party
11. Kyle chasing me around the house with that scary old man mask. No wonder I was scared of him until I was 12...
12. OUR "Gardetto Island" in the middle of Lake Meredith
13. Dressing up as "bitches" (although we really didn't have to dress up...) for Halloween in high school, and winning the costume part
14. Everything we did in high school...especially on the weekends
15. Watching you receive your gold medals at the state track meet, and having tears in my eyes because I was so darn proud of and happy for you
16. As grown women, crushing on vampires together
17. Laughing, crying, griping, and everything in between, together
And the list could go on...
Thanks for always being there, through thick and thin, and being the awesome person that you are. I love you and miss you all the time!
Cole

I just thought of one more: Realizing that ordering meatball cavatini after watching Braveheart in the movie theatre wasn't exactly a good idea.

Abomination!

Dear Mean Nasty PAINFUL Ugly Disgusting Canker Sore at the bottom of my gums underneath my bottom lip,
You suck. Go away. I want to eat again without my eyes tearing up. You are supposed to get smaller, not bigger. Although you feel welcomed along with my increasing stress level, you are not. Go back to where you came from and never return. EVER!

Welcome Madelynn Nicole

Miss Maddie,
I am so glad that you are finally here! You are such a perfect little angel, and you are so loved. I miss you already, and I cannot WAIT to see you again! You are in such loving, caring hands with your Mommy and Daddy. Just remember, when you are with Aunt Nicole, you can have whatever you want as long as you don't tell Daddy. You, Mommy, Nana, your cousin Claire Bear, and I will have tea parties and play dress up and do any other kind of girly thing that we want to do. Daddy, Poppa, Uncle Wes, and your cousins Cade and Mason will be your protectors and probably teach you a little about playing in the dirt! Don't forget that Memaw and Papa and Grandma will always give you bunches and bunches of kisses and hugs anytime you want!
It is so exciting to think of all you have ahead of you in life. The possibilities are endless! Right now, let's just start with learning how to say Aunt Cole. Don't worry - practice makes perfect! ;)
I love you so much, Maddie, and I am honored to be your aunt!
Hugs and lots of kisses,
Aunt Cole