Hi, everyone! The past week has been pretty busy – and lots of fun! And super, duper COLD! I know, I know – I live in Georgia, for Pete’s sake. I should not be complaining about the cold. I’m just so, so ready for Spring. We got a little dusting of snow on Friday, though, so of course my sister and I got out on our trampoline and threw snow at each other for a little while!

Wednesday was a blast. Mostly because I got out of schoolwork for my sister’s birthday! We went out to eat and shopped around for a little while and gave my sister her presents from my mom, dad, and I. The real fun was Friday night! Since Anna has officially hit double digits, she had her first birthday sleepover. Several of her friends and our cousins came over and we stayed up late and watched a movie and ATE CAKE!!!

An ice cream cake, nonetheless. Yes, it’s true. There was ICE CREAM INSIDE THE CAKE. It’s ice cream and cake, BUT ONE! I was very excited. I’m making myself drool thinking about that yummy cake.

I also took some pictures with my pretty pink Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 (in short, a Polaroid), with some of the girls, who kept telling me it was the coolest camera in the world.

Quick tip – don’t talk when the person takes the picture, okay? (When you see the look on my face! Lol.)

I’m also thinking about Starbucks. The next morning, I went to this 1850’s historical home near where I live to volunteer and give some tours for a few hours. It was my second time there as an oh-fficial “junior docent,” but I got to give my very first tour of the home! My cousin Sydney was at Anna’s sleepover, so in the morning she decided to come and hang out at the historical home to see if becoming a junior docent would be fun, and soon enough she was in the costume and giving tours, as well! It was a blast.

After hanging out there for a few hours, on the way home, I asked my dad if he’d take us to Starbucks (where you’ll find the greatest cups of make-believe in the world), and he said, “I might could swing that.” YES. Sydney and I worked our charm. But he had something up his sleeve. (Like he always does.) We had to go into the Starbucks. As in, inside. No problem, right? Ahahahaha. But it was. We were IN OUR 1850’S COSTUMES. They’re gorgeous, truly. I love twirling around in my 6 layers of pantelettes and drawers and bloomers and skirts and slips and all that, but if we walked into this 21st century Starbucks, we would look like… well, you get the picture.

I did need that Starbucks, so it was worth it. One table pointed at Sydney and me, but we just smiled and ordered our drinks (BY THE WAY, GET THE STRAWBERRIES & CREAM FRAPAPPUCCINO), and sat down for a minute or two… probably looking Amish or something!

There we are, lovely as always. Never a dull moment.

Signing off with Maisy and my awesome new book (The Gossip File by Anna Staniszewski – it’s so funny! And well worth the fact that I now have -$2),

I’ve known my best friend since I was five months old. Yep. That’s thirteen years ago today – which makes today a very special day. Not only is today the day I met my best friend, it’s also her birthday! And it’s a pretty big one, too. Today, Sydney Rose, YOU’RE A TEENAGER! (By the way, are you reading this right now? You better be. You told me you subscribed.)

We’ve been through everything – and I mean literally, everything, together. We conquered potty-training. And then the meanest girl in preschool. (Remember her? You know who I’m talking about.) We’ve lived ten minutes down the road from each other our whole entire lives – that’s pretty special. Not very many best friends get to do that. We’re like sisters. (And we fight like sisters.) You could even say we’re like family…

What’s that? We are family?! That makes SO much more sense now. You know, the best thing about us being family is – YES! OMG, see? You knew what I was going to say! You even finish my sentences! All I have to do is give you a call and be like “So-in-so.” and you’re like “Ugh.” Or “Look behind you.” and you say “Oh. Sweet. Lord.”

You’re always so determined. When you put your mind to something, you really put your mind to it. When I ask for your advice, you tell me, straight-out. Sometimes I think we’re so different it’s crazy. But most of the time, I realize the things we do have in common – things like family and interests and and secrets and inside jokes – well, nothing can replace that. 13 years of sleepovers and giggles and birthday parties and school and vacations. Wow!

I know that God gave me you for the ups and downs. (hehehe. See what I did?) So we would both bring out the best in each other. So we would hold each other’s hands and pat each other on the shoulders and comfort each other. So one of us could say “Girl, get real and quit being ridiculous!” For all those years I would be without a BCF if it weren’t for you. (Best Cousins Forever.)

Happy birthday to my best friend!!!! (And happy national frozen yogurt day, too!)

xx, Emily

Love you, Sydney! <3