Better than a blister

(That title will make sense to no one but my sister.)

One of my favorite Christmas gifts (besides the dance lessons that Tony got for me) was a small album my mom gave me. It was just a simple, plastic album that said "Sisters" on the front. Inside, it was filled with pictures of me and my (one and only) sister--everything from recent pictures to some of our very first pictures together. Even better, tucked into the back of the album was a CD. I assumed it was just all the same pictures, and it was... but it also contained a bunch more pictures. Most of them are pictures I probably have copies of somewhere, but who knows where the older ones have gotten packed away. Now, I have them all in one place, and I have them in digital format. It was truly a priceless gift--and one that I know my mom put a lot of time and thought into. (And yes, she made one for my sister, too.) Anyway, I thought I'd share some of those pictures with you.

I'll start with some relatively recent, not-too-embarrassing ones. First, here's one from my wedding day in 1998, with my sister as my maid of honor. (Hey, 1998 is fairly recent in the grand scheme of things. Shut it.)



And, for comparison sake, a picture from HER wedding day, about 7 years later, with me as her matron of honor.



I'm pretty sure I've posted both of those pictures before, at some time or another. But these, I know I didn't have copies of...



We don't need a third angel because we're so awesome...



Ok, going back even further in time... this was the night of my high-school graduation. It was after the ceremony, after the big party at our house... I finally got changed into some comfy clothes and opened gifts and cards from my family. I just love the way we're hugging here. (And I'm amused at the way my dad seems to be scolding my littlest brother Pete.)



Now we're getting back toward the really old, slightly embarrassing pictures. (And yes, I am absolutely purposely skipping all the really awkward junior-high-ish age pictures. Trust me, it's a good thing.) OK, first of all, I'll tell you who everyone is. In the front "row" is our cousin Navid, Mary, and my brother Dave. In the back "row" is yours truly (dig those pigtails, huh?), my brother Steve, and another cousin, Mariam (sister to Navid). What I really love about this picture is that it was taken at the house I grew up in. Or, at least, the house I always think of when I think of my "childhood home." If you look just above Mary's head, you can kind of see the treehouse my dad built us. I loved that treehouse--it was so awesome.



All of us kiddos, again with those same cousins (but a few years earlier). Left to right... Mary, me, Mariam, Dave, Steve, and Navid.



Not the greatest quality picture, but I love it because of where we are... at the base of the Old Man of the Mountain in New Hampshire. I know I've mentioned it a hundred times before, but we vacationed in the White Mountains of NH nearly every summer when I was growing up, so that area holds a very special place in my heart. And, L to R... Steve, Dave, me, Mary.



Me and Mary, chilling on the couch. Something about Mary's face really reminds me of Ari here.



Ah, this has to be one of my first pictures with my little sister. Dave, Steve, and me holding Mary. (Also... see my curly hair? Now you know where Ari gets it from.) Dang, we were cute kids, huh?



Another first picture of me and Mary together.



A picture of us with a bunch of Dad's relatives. That's me and Mary in the front, with my siblings and cousins and Dad's siblings and mom all scattered around.



And this picture... this one made me tear up. All 4 of us kids, with our grandparents (my mom's parents). My Grampa is still alive, but my Gramma passed away when I was 9, and I was so heartbroken. I loved her so much. But, the expression on my face cracks me up... that is such a "Sara face."



So there you have it... a nice little stroll down memory lane.