Caitlin is 30!

Ok stop it. I cannot believe my baby sister is 30… like completely in denial. Today’s post is all about Caitlin in honor of her entering her fourth decade. It is always nice to hear what people like about you and/or remember you best by, so I asked some key people in her life to share their thoughts! I’m going to share a mix of people’s favorite memories and things that are quintessentially Caitlin! 

1. Caitlin is an enneagram 6 – the loyalist
2. We shared a room until I (Jenilee) was in high school. Our neighbors had a pool that lined up to our window and we would (in hindsight) creepily call out the window to our neighbor (who was like a grandpa to us) while he swam at night.
3. She is super organized
4. There are many things I love about Caitlin, but one of my favorite things is her spontaneity. If you know her, you know she is a planner, so it’s really fun when she pulls a wild card! Some of my favorite spontaneous moments include; many swerves into Kopps Custard for our favorite flavor, Goodwill and dive bar stops on road trips, last minute concert tickets, accidental late nights, garbage bowl meals and so many more. I am lucky to call her one of my closest friends! – Sarah
5. I love that my little girl picked up one of my ‘naughty’ things. Growing up I loved to moon people especially while swimming in the lake. My Caitlin has picked up mooning for the next generation! – Our Mom
6. Caitlin is the runt of our family at 5’11
7. As a toddler, Caitlin loved to say “mine” to everything (Nick’s favorite memory)
8. Pasta has been her absolute favorite forever
9. Not many people know that Caitlin is almost a man. She has been taking advanced Man lessons from the manliest man she knows, her Dad. Many man lessons were held at the manland institute for advanced man studies. She can do a lot of Man stuff and tings. – Our Dad (whose hunting land is called Man Land).
10. One of my favorite memories is playing Barbies in our unfinished basement. We would spend 90% of our time setting up our houses and dressing the dolls (foreshadowing our love for clothing!?). We would have to turn the lights off and we would sprint up the stairs so the monsters couldn’t get us in the dark.
11. Caitlin has ALWAYS known what she likes/doesn’t like even as a small child. Whether it was how she wanted her hair worn, or what she would or would not wear she had strong opinions.
12. Also from our Dad – Caitlin’s hero is Top Gigio, her happy place is Happy Place (beer), she likes her pancakes a little heavy on the sap, and she is her Dad’s beer sous chef
13. We worked together for the first three years after she graduated college, which was the highlight of working there and probably prolonged us staying in an industry we’re not passionate about.
14. Red Raspberry is her favorite frozen custard at Kopps, followed by Key Lime Pie!
15. That leads me to another favorite memory, which is her putting up with me and my bff stealing her clothing when we were in high school. She would leave and then discover we wore her clothing after we posted pictures online. 
16. Caitlin is a total dog lover. We grew up with Labradors in our house and she used to lay cuddled on top of our yellow lab.
17. We went to college together for 1 year and got to be roommates. Highlights included making some killer pot roasts, having a bowl devoted solely to consuming popcorn, fostering a stubborn pit bull named Kennedy, and the consumption of too much cherry Burnetts vodka. 
18. Caitlin is a beer brewer, a hobby she picked up with her Dad!
19. Favorite Caitlin moments include floating on the river and playing beer pong! We later found out the poles could have tipped and electrocuted us all (yikes!). When her parents were MIA at the S-No-W Fun Run and Joel and I got to step in and be her parents! Finally, when Joen went and partied with Caitlin and friends in LaCrosse. He told me he was sleeping in his car at 9 p.m. and I got to ask him why Caitlin had sent me a Snapchat with him still partying at 10:30 p.m. (and who knows how much longer!). – Sandee Lammers
20. Another complete Caitlinism is the strange positions she can sleep in. It would be completely normal to walk into the living room to find her half off the couch or flung over the arm napping. It is a wonder she didn’t have any serious back/neck problems.
21. Sara (one of her best friends) favorite memory is finishing a long day of college classes together with 2for1’s and Dyno fries at Howies.
22. Our entire adult lives, we have been workout partners. We went through a phase of lifting on our own and then worked with a personal trainer together, but we are much happier now being at Burn Boot Camp and having someone tell us what to do every day!
23. My baby girl was a joy to watch grow up. She loved just being with me and doing all the things I did, like helping me in the kitchen, I taught her how to sew, she even tried to like running with me. She was the cutest little gushy girl who ran everywhere when she was little but was also extremely stubborn when nap time rolled around! The most important thing about her is the beautiful young woman she has become. Her character is full of loyalty, true actions of LOVE, generosity of her time, a hard worker, creative beyond words, and most importantly her relationship with GOD! I couldn’t ask for a sweeter daughter who is also a dear friend to me. I love you Caitlin!! – Mom
24. We went through a phase of being devoted to winning radio contests. We both won designer purses, she won a Kindle Fire and also won several concert tickets, including a meet and greet with Luke Bryan (see our Aunts back story below). Many people were angry that she took me with her (knowing that I’m not a country fan). 
25. Holly loves that they used to order Jimmy John’s to the pool every day in the summer, driving the little red car in our court, taking shots of tequila together, and always answering her plant questions!
26. Caitlin is happiest with her people up north living lake life in the summertime.
27. She is extremely loyal, loving and a sentimental person who loves her family, her God and her country. She also makes the most adorable birthday cards. – Aunt Sandy
28. Tim (my husband’s) favorite things/memories about Caitlin are Lil’ Boy (her original car), passion for homebrewing, her surprise guest bartending at BB, and her bursting into song with her favorite lyrics “late nights in the middle of June,” and having Bloody Mary’s late morning at the lake.
29. One of my favorite memories of Cailtin was when she was just a few years old (3 at the most). She to this day has an independent streak that is as wide as it is high as it is deep.. She knows her mind. Her Aunt Sally had given her Mom a beautiful expensive tube of a rich orangish red lipstick in a gold case. Caitlin had seen her Mom put on lipstick hundreds of times, what could go wrong, especially with her twins in tow… Needless to say Caitlin’s application made Bozo look like a novice. Her face from the nose down and ear to ear was covered along with her hands. She was a sight to see that still makes me laugh. Her Mom took a picture which eventually got her concert tickets and backstage passes to see Luke Bryan! – Aunt Susan
30. My granddaughter is a kindred spirit. She used to write me letters when she was younger which I will always cherish. She learned how to sew, which is dear to my heart. Caitlin also wanted to learn how I made my egg salad and other favorite dishes including cracker noodles. She also makes time to chat with me on the phone and visits me when she comes up north as well as takes me to the Burnt Bridge for a Big Ass Pretzel! – Our Grandma Picky
31. Megan says, Caitlin is one of the most thoughtful, genuine, and beautiful humans out there. Her love language is sharing her plants
32. BB Wesley says, I love my auntie, she counts my rolls and gives me kisses and makes me laugh.
33. Another friend says, Caitlin’s hilarious, fun, and kind personality instantly brightens every room she walks into. I’m so lucky to call Caitlin my friend. Throw on a Goodwill flannel in her honor, HBD Caitlin.
34. We both agree she’s a blast! Always have fun with her and love her fun ideas. And also that she’s just always her authentic self no matter what! Mike & Megan

Hopefully you learned some new special things about Caitlin on her thirtieth birthday. We all hope she feels the love on her birthday and every day. She is one special lady, and we’re all blessed to have her in our lives. Wish her a Happy Birthday in the comments below!