This is my favorite photo of all times of me and my sister!  We both share a birthday in the Month of May and I was probably not the gift she was hoping shortly after she turned 5 years old!

Even though there is 5 years age difference between us, we have been mistaken as twins many times in our life.  There are countless stories to be told of people getting us mixed up … even our own family!  People call me Shannon all the time and I usually just smile or try to answer!  This wasn’t ‘as’ complicated until I married a Shannon too!

My children call her ‘Ninny’ and I love it!

This is May 1975

Well this is the Big 4-0 for my sister!  Even though most of my earlier years were spent wishing I was ‘her’ age …. I am sort of glad she has arrived here first!  She got to drive first, date first, graduate first, get married first … you know all the things a younger sister wishes she could to with her big sister!  But this milestone birthday is all hers. She has already set an incredible example of celebrating it with confidence, poise and of course beauty!

Life has thrown her some curve balls here and there, but she has always come out on top and I am so proud of her!

This beautiful cake was made by my friend Christina!  She does an excellent job!  Not only are they beautiful …. they are delicious too!!!

I opted to celebrate her day with bright colors and flowers!  It is always a good thing to treat those ahead of you with kindness….. what comes around goes around .. or so I have heard!  Not going to take any chances!!

She said she felt like a big kid!  I think that is perfectly OK!!!

My beautiful sister, Shannon.

She is knocking on the door of her lifetime goal with Weigh Watchers!  Awesome!!!

And her family ……

Happy Birthday to you!  And in the words of our PaPa Clyde … I hope you have a bunch more!!!  =]