This year, today in fact, my sister turns 25. Happy birthday Kate. ( A couple years ago I did a “through the years” entry for her. This year I am too wiped to do it again. Enjoy the first one again HERE.)

Thus far in honor of her turning 25, my family has celebrated her birthday in the following ways:

July 13th: Family went out to dinner at Cafe Tosca in Hingham and then saw Kathy Griffin at the South Shore Music Circus
July 26th: Family got together and had dinner at my father’s and then we went and saw Brian Regan at the South Shore Music Circus
July 27th: My sister and a big group of her friends went out to a bar in South Boston to drink in honor of said birthday
July 29th: My sister, Hooker, our roommate Ellen and I went to see The Police at Fenway Park
July 30th: My father, mother, stepmother, grandparents and I got together for dinner, birthday cake and presents.
July 31st: Today, her actual birthday, Kate and I are meeting in town for dinner and then heading over to Fenway for the second time in one week to catch the Red Sox.

HOLY BIRTHDAY MONTH.

Kate will claim that this was due to her as my birthday “is always out of control and a big deal”. Please keep in mind that my birthday is on Christmas Eve, so by “big deal” what I REALLY think she means is convenient. For the family. And not for me.

I mean, it’s the day before Christmas – our immediate family and some out-of-state-ers are obviously going to be around. So we all get dinner together and get “my cake”. (I hate chocolate cake and every year request a strawberry shortcake .. my favorite). Last year on my birthday, in addition to my cake, we ordered clam chowder from Legal Seafood and my stepmother made a delicious lobster salad. My grandparents came up to enjoy the festivities with my mom, dad, stepmom and sister. Then everyone left to go to Christmas parties.

And get this for the past 26 years of my life, the day after my birthday, as in CHRISTMAS, we all get together again! Apparently to my sister I am JESUS, because she thinks this second get together is also for me. Not for a INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAY or anything.

Based on what I’ve told you, I am insane and my birthday is a HUGE deal and out of control. Clearly my sister, the newly appointed 25 year old is CORRECT.

Well KATE, remember all those JULY birthdays you had as a child? Outside! In the summer! Six months AFTER Christmas when you would get MORE presents! Pool parties! Sunny!

You think about how sad and depressing that was for you and how AWESOME my birthdays all were when aunt after aunt would say “OH riiiight. Your birthday. With all this Christmas rush .. I uh… forgot about that. Well, no worry! Here’s your BIRTHDAY/CHRISTMAS present. Sorry about the Santa wrapping paper. It’s all I had in the house. Don’t drop it in the SNOW on the way outside. It’s a freakin’ BLIZZARD out there. Enjoy!”

HAPPY AWFUL BIRTHDAY KATE. Hope this month of incredibleness has made up for all those HORRIBLE birthdays in the past.

With ‘Nanny and Grampy’ last night.

Just kidding, Lil Sis. Happy AWESOME birthday. Love you. Your name, your name is Kate. XO.