Mandy Pandy Sweet As Candy

Happy 17th Mandy Pandy!!! It seems like just yesterday when you came home from school crying because you couldn't believe that your kindergarten teacher was so mean and called you "Mandy Pandy Sweet as Candy". You were so upset, I laughed and you cried more. I tried to explain that it was not a mean name but a nick name of endearment. You wouldn't believe me and was sure that your meanie teacher was making fun of you. This is a teacher that even took the time to come to our house for your birthday party! She was just so mean... hahaha.

Over the years you made us laugh with your silly chattering. Daddy gained a new appreciation for your ability to talk the year that you got to join the "Zainy-Brainy Book Club" for a birthday present. You were so excited that you got a special time with Daddy all by yourself each week to go to the book club. Daddy would come home smiling but exhausted from your non-stop chattering about EVERYTHING!! Now we look back and wish we could hear that silly girl with her constant chatter and big smile and have those years all over again. It has gone by too quickly!!! We sure love the sweet daughter that you have been and look forward to watching you continue to grow into an amazing woman.

Here are some our favorite memories of our Curly Sue:

• The instant bond that you shared with your big sister



• Your calm, sweet attitude even as a baby who was being secretly packed around by your two year old sister
  
  
• Your willingness to share cookies- We would give you one cookie for each hand and you would look around for Laura so that you could give her one
  
  
  
• All the trips to the Pizza Parlor so that you would give your Daddy some Kisses!
  
  
  
• The tears shed when Laura told you that you didn't really have curls, that they were tangles and rats (just because she was jealous of all the compliments you would get)

• The endless pink elephant jokes
  
  
  
• The millions of times that we had to sing "My Pigeon House" just to get you to go to sleep
  
  
  
• Blanky number one, two and three that your Grandma made you because you wouldn't go anywhere without them




• The nose crinkling and foot stomping
  
  
  
• The singing and dancing around the house while "Angels Among Us" played very loudly
  
  
  
• Allison and Manda playing horses for hours (who knew that we needed to monitor that so closely?)
  
  
  
• Your obsession with animal science that started with the Irving's dogs =)
  
  
  
• The poem books that you and your sister would write while sneaking and staying up at night
  
  
• Telling you that you needed to stop being so generous with your older sister and start telling her "NO"... you took that to heart!!



• Cats, cats, cats, cats.... need I say more?? I'm still not sure how you talked your Dad and I into that adventure!
  
  
• Your drive to keep going and never give up even when there were challenges that you had to face




• The times that I have had to hide books from you in order to get your nose out of them (what a great problem to have!)
  
  
  
• The love that you have had for cooking!!!
  
  
  
• The 2 billion loaves of banana nut bread and rolls that you made and sold to earn a trip to Israel

• Seeing how brave you were to board a plane and fly across the world all by yourself.... you inspire us constantly!





• Your patience, kindness and service that you are willing to render to all those around you





• The ability you have to laugh at life's challenges and not let it keep you down
  
  
  
• Watching you set goals and work diligently to complete them
  
  
  
• The quiet steadiness that you have in working daily to be a valiant daughter to our Heavenly Father

You have taught us so much from being your parents. We are daily grateful for the blessing to have you in our lives. You are a wonderful little sister and an incredible big sister! There isn't a day that goes by that you don't make us laugh, feel thankful and be inspired. Thank you for being who you are.