On July 26th, my previously-six-year-old sister turned seventeen. That’s what it feels like anyway. Because she’s so wise and sassy beyond her years.

To celebrate this national holiday, we took my sister to Cookies & Cream Cafe for some ice cream nachos, then we splashed around at the Holmen Aquatic Center, and then we picked up Chloe and Annalia for a pizza and movie at the Rivoli, before ending the night at the Pearl Ice Cream Parlor for more ice cream. A birthday bookended with scoops of sweetness is this girl’s dream come true!

Since Genesee is now officially a big kid, I figured it’s time to document what makes Genesee…well, Genesee. So, in commemoration of her age, here are seven things you should know about this version of my little sister:

1. Rom-Com Connoisseur: Genesee loves herself a good romantic-comedy movie… she loves a good hugging scene and watches like she’s taking mental notes for the future. Gross!
   
2. Alexa’s BFF: Genesee has full-blown conversations with Alexa. No joke. You can often find her saying, “Alexa, I’d like to give you feedback.” Like they’re business partners or something.
   
3. Bedtime Snack Queen: It’s a fact—Genesee is never more thirsty or hungry than the exact moment it’s time for bed. Every. Single. Night.
   
4. Motherhood? Nah.: Genesee has very strong opinions about not wanting kids. She announced it out of nowhere a few years ago and hasn’t changed her mind since.
   
5. Pizza Weirdo: When Genesee eats pizza, she often flips it upside down. Yep, cheese on the bottom, crust on the top. I’m not sure why, but her dedication to doing things differently is admirable.
   
6. Fashion Icon: Genesee roams the house wearing one sock. No explanation, no second sock. Just…one. And she’s totally cool with it.
   
7. Artist-Athlete-Reader-Extraordinaire: Genesee is what you might call a triple treat. She’s a lover of basketball and soccer, but don’t let her sporty side fool you. She’s also very much an artist and she’s an incredibly expressive reader!

In summary, Genesee may be my little sister, but she’s got a BIG personality. And even though that big personality clashes with my perfectly-sized personality some days, I’m still honored to call her my sister. Because, truly, the world needs more Genesees.

Happy birthday, Gigi Louigi!