Sweet 16 Today!

At 1:43 AM today,  Annie turned 16 years old!  WOW!  It seems like she was just born yesterday, but it has been 16 YEARS!  If she had been a boy, she would have been named Matthew.   If it had been my decision alone, she would have been named Olivia.  Now I can't picture her as anything but "Annie".

Right from day1, she was loved by her big brother and big sister.

They treated her as a playmate. No matter how little, she was always a part of the action!

                       She smiled early and often!
            Adam and Kerry could always get her to giggle.

Annie was a beautiful, sweet, happy baby.  This was the day of her baptism.

                             She had nice dark hair and dark eyes....

 

I don't think she ever thought of herself as little.  She was just one of the kids.

She loved her bunny "Bun-Bun" almost as much as she loved to suck her thumb.

         She took after Kerry - she loved to ham it up for pictures!
         This was taken on top of the World Trade Center.

Annie was always a "girly" girl and very concious of fashion.

She probably didn't realize it at the time, but her life is was about to change.  On this day, Adam and Kerry were both going off to school and she would be home alone with me all day.   It's funny that this year she saw Adam and Kerry both leave for college and she is home alone again.

Here Annie sits with her cousin, Hali, when we visited Alaska.

 

Annie used to love to fish with her dad, and she won trophies at many fishing derbies.

Her 8th birthday was held at Vernon Lanes.  She is pictured here with Shannon.

 

Burlington is one of Annie's favorite places.   Here she is on the shore of Lake Champlain.

                One of her biggest forms of entertainment
                 is terrorizing "Mr. Wiggles"!

                    Annie used to want to be a ballerina...

                       ..... until she discovered music!

Annie has been a joy to her Dad and I since the day she was born.  She has a very optimistic view of life and is very warm-hearted, outgoing and friendly.   When the chips are down,  she is able to persevere.   Her confidence in herself has always amazed us.   We are so proud of her accomplishments in school, music, sports, and life!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANNIE!  We love you!