badgers, badgers we don't need no stinking badgers

I actually have no idea where that quote comes from. I just know that my dad says it EVERY time someone mentions something that is remotely close to a badger. No, really, no rodent is immune.

'Badger' is what 'Hannah' autocorrects to. (My name autocorrects to satan, but let's not read too much into that.)

Hannah is my widdle, teeny, baby sister who somehow grew up and turned eighteen last week. She is also one of the most amazing people I know, and in the last few years has become one of my best friends.

When Hannah was a baby she sucked her thumb and twirled her hair.  This habit continued through her toddler years and she developed a bald spot,  monk style,

 Franciscan monk

Not Adrian Monk, that would have been okay. 

The obvious solution was to shave her head. She spent the next 2-3 years working her way from buzz cut to bowl cut (matching my brother Fenton's) and eventually growing hair that didn't provoke remarks like, "My, what an adorable boy you are!" Or my personal favorite, "Have you dressed all your sons in dresses?" All the while, smiling through it with her indomitable attitude.

Hannah is the type of person who always finds a way to overcome. To overcome challenges with a cheerful attitude, and when all is over, she ends up on top. Kind of like a cockroach, except, trade the blatant repulsiveness for courage and a contagious laugh. She's the type of person that you always want around, because she somehow makes every situation more fun.

As a functioning adult with a pair of phone-phobia and stranger-danger complexes, I've always admired Hannah's ability to talk to anyone, regardless of whether they are old, young, happy, angry, rich, or poor. But she doesn't just talk to them, she makes them her friend--and sometimes after only a 30 second conversation, her best friend.

So as Hannah enters the adult world, I know, no matter what happens to her, she will overcome, through her optimistic attitude, testimony of the gospel, unfailing courage, and endless reserve of Harry Potter trivia.

Love you Hannah! Happy birthday, kick back in a HP snuggie, watch some Miley Cyrus movies, and eat some Del Taco chili cheese fries for me--I'll be there in eight weeks to celebrate faux-muggle style.

Also: Happy Mothers' Day Mom!

I'd do a post on you, Mom, but I know you prefer a certain degree of anonymity and I'm really hoping on making the move up to seventh favorite child, solely in hopes of securing the coveted cheese grater in your will. (Death bed take backs can happen, Derrick.)

But I will say that even with half her face cut up, my mom is still the most beautiful person I know, inside and out. One of my favorite places in the world to be is sitting at her kitchen counter talking to her while she works. (and that pretty much sums us both up.)