Lala

Happy Birthday Claire Bear!

Today is my baby sister's 3rd birthday. She is such a little terror! Claire is quite the character. She LOVES coloring! It is literally weekly that we discover a new piece of artwork of hers on a household item. She LOVES sugar, especially donuts. She LOVES Dora, Kai Lan, Disney Princesses, Wonder Pets, Backyardigans, and any other animated characters that a typical three year old would like. She LOVES her friends. They are a big part of her conversations. She says things like, "I played with MY Rachel today!". She isn't quite potty trained (not even close) but she takes things at her own pace.

She is Justin Bieber's NUMBER ONE FAN! She has loved him since before I can remember. I think she learned to say Justin Bieber before she learned to say Melissa! She sings his song "Baby" all the time. She can be SO mean! Sometimes, I will smile at her or say hi and she says, "Don't say that Lissa!". And other times, she is the sweetest little thing ever.

I am fifteen years older than Claire, but I love her so much. She is my little princess. I nicknamed her Lala the day she was born and I have called her that ever since. She is so cute when I ask what her name is and she says "Lala Camel (Campbell)". This year, we were asked to write an essay about someone or something that changed your life and I wrote about Claire. When she was born, I didn't expect to be close with her at all. I figured I would be off to college in three years, she would grow up without me around and I would just be her sister that she didn't really know that well. Little did I know, Claire would become one of my best friends. She is the cutest, sweetest, funniest little girl I've ever known.

SOME of My Favorite Memories of Claire

A few weeks ago, I got home really late from school activities. I carried all my

things up the stairs and down the hall to my room. When I opened the door to my room

the light was off, so I turned it on. Then suddenly I jumped back when a little girl tucked

into my covers yelled "HI LISSA!". She HATES sleeping in her own bed so she always ends

up in mine, or in the hallway, or another random place. I told her I was going to ask mom if

she was allowed to be out of her bed and in my room and she said "No Lissa! Don't tell mom"

So I let her lay in my room until she fell asleep.

Earlier this year, my team competed at state in Phoenix. My mom and Natalie came down to

watch me compete and my dad stayed home with the younger kids. We got home late at night,

and all went straight to bed. It was kind of snowy up here still, and there was still a good foot of

snow on the ground. A few weeks later, my mom was downstairs in the kitchen and noticed

tons of our stuff was out in the backyard (books, toys, clothes, shoes, etc.). Little Claire had been

throwing items off the balcony while my dad was watching her. Apparently it's fun to throw everything

we own in the snow.

I tell Claire I love her about 15 times a day. One night, my mom was putting Claire to bed and she

said "I love you Claire" and Claire replied "*sigh* I love me". My mom thought that was kind of

funny so she said, "Oh yeah? Well I love Heidi." Then Claire fired back and said "Well I love Alex"

Hahahaha! I thought that was so hilarious. :)

Since Claire hates sleeping in her own bed by herself, she tends to cry a lot when we put her to

bed. One night she was very upset so I went in and laid next to her. She always asks me to tell her

a story so I told her some random story. Afterwards, I said, "Claire, promise me you won't forget

me when I go to college!" and Claire said, "I PINKY PWOMISE!" It was so sweet. She just wanted

to keep talking and talking all night long and I had to get her to bed somehow, so I turned on

some Taylor Swift music to get her to fall asleep. It worked, and she was out in no time, but I

stayed in there a few minutes longer, with the music still playing. A newer Taylor Swift song

came on that I had never really listened to. The lyrics fit PERFECTLY, as all Taylor Swift lyrics

seem to match up with my life. Not only did the lyrics remind me of Claire, but even of Nat, and

myself, as we all grow up together.

Never Grow Up- Taylor Swift

Your little hand's wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
No, no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off
At 14, there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots

But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older, too
And don't lose the way that you dance around
In your PJs getting ready for school

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

No one's ever burned you
Nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to
Just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs

I just realized everything I have
Is someday gonna be gone

So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder than I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on

Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up

Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
Could still be little
Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
It could still be simple

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

Won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
And even through to you want to
Please try to never grow up

Don't you ever grow up
Just never grow up