apparently we share genes?

This is my youngest sister Mary

gah isn't she beyond gorgeous?????

One of her friends posted this pic on facebook from her homecoming dance and my jaw dropped.  What happened to my little sister??? She had just turned 9 when I left for college in 2004 and now she's 15!

She always gets frustrated that I still treat her like she's a little girl but this is what she looked like when I left for college!  I'm still trying to come to grips with the fact that she is a sophomore in High School and playing in the band (it feels like only yesterday I was in her same shoes)

Even with our 9 year age difference Mary Jane and I have always connected and I love seeing the beautiful woman she is turning in to, even if I can't come to grips with it on most days. So in honor of my beautiful sister I decided to make up the list below.  enjoy!

My top 10 favorite things about Mary Jane

1. she's easily one of the funniest people I know

2. the girl is beyond witty.  her quick comebacks even give my dad a run for his money

3. she's humble and doesn't realize how gorgeous she is 

4. she is friends with everyone

5. she's the sweetest person you will ever meet (thus number 4)

6. she loves to lend a helping hand 

(Lizzie James and I take credit for this because we always used to make her do things for us when she was little...perks of being the youngest :)

7.  Because we are 9 years apart I got to use her as my excuse for watching the Disney Channel all through High School.

8.  She laughs at my dorky jokes

9. She will talk to me on the phone for as long as I want

10.  She's slightly OCD and has organized my apartment ever since grad-school (the first time I lived on my own)