The Sisters!!! And Mitch.... :)

Samantha Marie Crane

This girl never ceases to amaze me. Sam is most definitely the obnoxious, perfect older sister who her younger sister can never measure up to. Fortunately, more than resent her for it, I love her for it. I am so grateful that I have always had someone to set the bar so high for me. I really don't actually compare myself to Sam all the time, but I am thankful that I have her good example to motivate me to do the best that I can. I have always been grateful to have such a wonderful older sister to pave the way for me on all of the major things in life. Being first at everything would be a stressful job and I'm so glad that I have her to relieve me of that responsibility.

Besides being good at everything and setting a great example for me, my older sister is one of my very best friends. We have soooo many great memories and we can always count on having a great time when we're together. Sam totally gets me and we can talk and laugh for hours. Our phone conversations usually end up lasting way longer than either of us had planned on  because we just want to tell each other everything. We have so much fun and I live for those times when we are together and start laughing hysterically and literally don't stop for hours. We crack ourselves up. Sam was my very first best friend, and it was a good thing that we formed that friendship early so we could help each other cope when the other siblings showed up ;) I am so lucky to have someone as amazing as my older sister who I know will always be there for me. When I go home in just over a week, it will have been almost a year since I saw her last. And it really has been a little miserable to be so far away for so long. I am so grateful for the wonderful example and friend that Sam has been and always will be in my life. Love you Sambo! See you soon.

Alexis Ann Crane

My favorite baby sister. I absolutely love this little girl. Well, okay, to be fair she's not really a baby or little anymore....she's getting old. Lexi has always been the comic relief for our family. When she was younger, she was just a  weird little girl who never stopped talking, but she totally cracked us up. And she still does. She was my perfect playmate while we were growing up and now I love any chance that I get to hang out with her. I look up to Lexi more than she will ever know. That girl has so much going for her and I just want to take a class of "Life Lessons by Lexi" from her. She's so free and fun-loving and just seems to have the world at her disposal.

This may sounds redundant, but Lexi is also my best friend. I am so grateful for the wonderful relationship that I have with my sisters. We really have the best time together. Lexi always knows how to make me laugh. She is also insanely talented. I am jealous of her for soooo many reasons but so proud of the beautiful young woman that she has become. It has been hard on me to be so far away from this little girl, especially during these big times in her life. She probably thinks I'm crazy, but I hang on her every word and want to hear every detail of life at Burley High School. Lexi is an amazing girl and such a great example to me. I am so grateful for the close friendship that we share even when we are thousands of miles away. My sisters and I have become quite the little team and there is no end to what we can accomplish or the fun that we can have. I feel so blessed to have the sisters that I do. I have had countless moments of being so proud to be related to these great girls, and wanting to point them out to the world and say, "That's my sister!". Lexi is such a beautiful, smart, talented girl and I can't wait to see the things that she will accomplish in her life. Thanks for always being there for me Lex. Love you!

Mitchell Keith Crane

Where do I start with this kid? I liked him from the start and that definitely hasn't changed. I can always count on Mitch to do stuff with me. He will never hesitate to watch a movie, play a board game, kayak, hot tub, play video games, go for a bike ride, or go out for frozen yogurt with me. He even agrees to play tennis with me (which often involves him picking up balls for me). Almost anything I can think of that I want to do, he will be more than happy to do with me. He's going to make a great boyfriend/husband one day.

 I have so much fun with this kid (though I will admit I haven't always loved when he tries to have fun with me while my friends are over....). Once again, I am sad that I have been missing out on his growing up. Every time I go home he is taller and his voice is deeper. He is getting so old and cool. I am grateful for the good relationship I have always had with him (I am the favorite sister) and for the way that it has grown as we have gotten older. I was talking to him this summer when I realized that I was starting to see him more as a friend rather than just my annoying little brother. He is turning into a real person that I can have real conversations with. That totally freaks me out but I love it at the same time. I like to think that I have taught Mitch a lot in his little life, but I also know that he has taught me a lot too. I am so grateful for the relationship that I have with my little brother and that I know it will only continue to get better. I can't wait to get home and see how much taller he is than me this time. Thanks for being the coolest little brother ever Mitch! I love you.