Charisa's birthday

BIRTHDAY BONANZA
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I was the oldest of eight kids growing up, and when my mother remarried almost 13 years ago, I gained another 6 siblings. With 14 children now, my parents have done an awesome job of making each person feel like they are equally as important as the next. We refer to each other as brothers and sisters and have really tried hard to leave the “step” mentality at the door. I don’t know how my parents do it with all they have to remember between birthdays for this child, spouse, or grandchild. Since 8 (almost 9) of us are married, there are 26 grandchildren, and 3 on the way, this makes for a very busy, loud, crazy, but fun environment when we all get together- which we do quite often considering the amount of energy (and food) it takes to organize a family gathering of this size.

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It is obvious that I have chosen to honor my siblings and Chris’ siblings, plus their spouses with birthday shout outs. So it is not surprising that I have been late or have forgotten altogether a birthday post…I am only human people. My sweet sister in law Charisa recently had a birthday and somehow I didn't write it in my planner. She didn't remind me, she didn't call to say, "Yo Sara! Where's my birthday post?!" I just made the discovery when I read on her blog about how she had celebrated her birthday. So here we are over a week later...

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Charisa married my brother Trent. She is pure sunshine and lollipops! They fell in love while doing the play, Beauty and the Beast in Idaho Falls- she was Belle, he was the Beast…..cue to romantic music. Both of them have voices like American Idol contestants. Charisa is pure charisma and I wonder if her parents knew she would be, hence her name. Since the first moment I met her I loved her, and I knew that she would be a wonderful addition to our family.

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The best way I can describe Charisa is by comparing her to Disney Princesses. As sappy as that sounds, I’m sure she’ll “get” the meaning behind it all.

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She is beautiful like Aurora...

She tends to and takes care of little Ethan

like Snow White with her dwarves...

She is smart like Belle...

She has a voice like Ariel...

She served a mission in Taiwan,

and has a fondness for the

Asian culture like Mulan....

She is unselfish and hard working

like Cinderella...

She is adventurous and sassy like Jasmine...

She is spiritual like Pocahontas...

But unlike all these fictional characters,

Charisa possesses true princess qualities that makes

all who meet her fall in love.

Happy Birthday to our own princess,

Charisa!!

We love you!!