Family Friday: Featuring My Niece Alyssa

I am pleased to announce that this is week 24 out of 46 weeks of "Family Friday"; I have officially passed the halfway point. As I stated at the very beginning of the series each family member was chosen randomly. My brother Archie's family is the only one that hasn't yet had a family member featured, that changes this week as I feature his daughter Alyssa.

Alyssa was born on July 10, 1990, which also happened to be my 32nd birthday. We have been birthday buddies for the past 19 years. When Alyssa was just a little girl Archie and JuLee organized a Cherry Hill day each year for Alyssa's birthday. It has been a fun tradition which we still do. Alyssa and I have spent many birthdays together at Cherry Hill. I remember one year (a very young) Alyssa asking me how old I was, I'll never forget the shocked look on her face when I told her. I don't think she had even heard of a number that high before.

For many years Mike, Caitlin, and I attended Mountain Fuel (Questar) Lagoon day with Archie, JuLee, and the girls. We looked forward to it every year. Alyssa and her sisters were always so sweet to Caitlin as they all wanted their chance to go on a ride with her.

In 1997 shortly after Alyssa turned seven, our family went on a week long trip to Yellowstone with Alyssa's family. We had such a fun time together. While we were at Old Faithful we could see a storm approaching in the distance. Mike and Archie decided to go get the cars and bring them closer to where we were for a quick get-away. As they made the decision and explained to the rest of us what the plan was Alyssa looked at Uncle Mike and said, "you're the one that got us into this mess." It was hilarious and one of thoses stories that has been repeated many times at family functions.

In Yellowstone National Park in 1997: JuLee, Aubree, Archie, Jeremy's friend Peter Meidell, Jeffrey, Ammanda, Michael, Caitlin, Alyssa (by the look on her face I think she's already thinking that the person standing behind her "got us into this mess"), and Jeremy

Alyssa is very motivated, she worked hard in school and took college classes during high school. As a result she graduated from Salt Lake Community College with an associates degree one month before she graduated from high school. Very impressive.

Caitlin, Alyssa, Ammanda, Aubree, and Tara at Dana Point Harbor in 2007

Things to know about Alyssa: She's attending the U of U and is planning to be a nurse. She plays the violin. She's a good daughter and sister. She is one of eight girls in the family with Ann as a middle name. She is the middle of three sisters. She has a bedroom in the basement with a window well outside, she decorates the well with cute yard decor so that she can enjoy it when her blinds are open. She has a dog named Bisquit. She has a boyfriend. She's a beautiful girl. We all love Alyssa and are so grateful that she is a part of our family.

Alyssa's family: Alyssa, Archie, JuLee, Ammanda, and Aubree