Happy Birthday K!

Today is the birthday of one of my very best friends: Kristen. She is my "longest friend." Kristen and I met WAY back in the 4th grade when we were part of a city children's choir. In high school, we both continued in choir and became really good friends during our junior and senior years, when I started dating one of her good guy friends and we did boy basketball stats together. In college, we ended up joining the same sorority and have remained close friends since then. Despite my moves far away from GF and MSP, we still see each other for our Girls Weekends twice a year and for other fun things along the way (this year, we have bonus time because she's getting married!). Kristen is a friend who I love so much. She is someone I can tell anything to, and she would never judge me for it, no matter what. I cannot imagine my life without her and for that, I want to share some of my greatest memories of us.

Extreme close up of K and I.

1. Singing "One Small Voice" together approximately 100 times a year for four years. I still remember the words and now have it stuck in my head.

2. When a "big, fat nothing" happened when we did basketball stats together. I was the computer person for stats and Kristen was the spotter. She would tell me what was happening so I could track it on the computer program, and often, a lot would happen so I would be looking down and I would miss things, so she would fill me in. But sometimes, there would be a lot of pandamonium while I was looking down but there would nothing for me to track. When I would ask her what just happened, she would say "Big, fat nothing."

3. Joining Gamma Phi Beta. Tomorrow marks our nine-year anniversary of our Bid Day. I remember going to Preference Day and seeing Kristen (we went to Gamma Phi in separate parties) and yelling "Happy Birthday"across campus.

Bid Day our Senior year

4. My 21st birthday. Kristen took care of me that night after I had had a little too much to drink. She even put my hair in a ponytail for me (which I told her wasn't high enough and she had to do again). I think I still owe her a bajillion dollars from that night...

Love this picture!

5. Fall semester of our senior year. We spent a lot of time together, and with two great guy friends, Justin and Jeran. Things that stick out from that semester: Whitey's "beat the bartender" night, especially the night before classes started, scrambled eggs with Bacos, hottubbing, breaking into the guys' house and decorating their Christmas tree, and watching Elf together. I also believe this is when our drunk "fun" names for each other were created: Jen Pen and K.

6. Shopping. Anytime I shop with Kristen is a good time because we are very similar shoppers. No wasting time - just get in and get out. Most of the time, Kristen doesn't even try things on! I love it!

7. 4th of July 2007. I called her the day before and said "Want some company?" She picked me up at 6am from the airport and we spent the morning in bed, followed by a fun trip to the Minnesota Zoo. It was a great improptu trip.

4th of July 2007 in front of a fish tank at the MN Zoo.

8. Girls Weekends. Twice a year, a group of us get together for a weekend. The weekends have calmed down a bit as we have gotten old- i.e., perusing kitchen stores in downtown Stillwater vs bar hopping in Uptown - but I love every second of them because I get to see my best friends. They are always fun, always full of shopping, and always full of surprises (this year, Kristen got appendicitis!).

Girls Weekend in Chicago - May 2008.

9. Meeting Josh, Kristen's fiance. I met Josh the weekend our good friend Michelle got married. I knew immediately that 1. I liked him and 2. He was a great match for Kristen. Since then, I have gotten to know him better and I love, love, love Kristen and Josh together. I am so happy they are getting married.

Love them both!

10. Kristen's wedding. Ok, so this hasn't happened yet, but it's coming up soon (12/31/2010) and I am SO excited! Kristen has asked me to be a bridesmaid (I, of course, said yes!), and I feel so blessed to be part of this very special day. Pictures of that event to come :-)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTEN!!!