Audrey turned 31 on May 23, and I thought I would share 31 things about my beautiful big sister to celebrate her special day. Some of these things you may already know; others you may not. Enjoy!

1. She knows I’m a day late and a dollar short for everything – including her 31st birthday post – and yet she loves me anyway

2. She is a loving, caring, amazing mother and could not be any more adored by her 4 boys

3. She was an exceptional swimmer in her younger days, making First Team All State each year of high school, holding the Rhode Island state record in the 100 yard breaststroke for many years and qualifying for the Junior Olympics

4. She is very humble and would probably never even tell you about her many swimming accolades (that’s what sisters are for!)

5. She is a true romantic and believes in the power of love probably more than anyone I know

6. She will never pass up a good “love story” movie, and enjoys dragging taking her love-skeptic little sister to see these romantic comedies with her

7. She is one of the funniest people I know

8. She often makes me laugh at the most inappropriate moments

9. She is so beautiful on the outside, but even more beautiful on the inside

10. She is incredibly loyal, and would go to bat for anyone in her family or close circle of friends without a moment’s hesitation

11. She was a cheerleader for the Brown University men’s basketball team for a nanosecond as a Freshman in college

12. She met the man she would eventually marry and have her 4 boys with during her Junior year at Brown

13. She wrote and self-published a book, Preconception Plain & Simple, with our mom

14. She used the tips she researched in that book when she was trying to conceive her first child – and they worked, 4 times over!

15. She has more energy than anyone I have ever met

16. She is able to be a wonderful mother to 4 boys, 4 years old and under, be a fantastic wife, daughter, sister and friend, and run a successful business from home – and make it all look easy

17. She is the first person I go to for fashion and/or make-up advice (and I’m the last person she’d go to for advice in these areas)

18. She is the last person I go to for grammar advice (and I’m the first person she’d go to for advice in this area)

19. She originally wanted to move to Los Angeles after graduating from college, but ended up going to New York City instead, much to her family’s delight (with NYC being a 3-hour drive away versus a cross-country flight)

20. She now has more Twitter followers than me

21. She takes her coffee with cream, no sugar

22. She loves celebrity gossip

23. She likes her miso soup with no scallions

24. She recently tried to give up her DVR, but found it to be too hard to part with

25. She is there for me in a moment’s notice whenever I need her

26. She loves reading Danielle Steele, Jackie Collins and Barbara Taylor Bradford novels

27. She would pack enough clothing for a 2-week vacation if she was going somewhere for 2 nights

28. She has much more patience than I do

29. She is much better at keeping in touch with people than I am

30. She is self-assured and confident, but not at all egotistical or narcissistic

31. She is my hero

Audrey, I love you more than anything. Thank you for being my big sister – the best sister in the world, in my opinion!