It's amazing how some people have the gift to perfect capture the soul and the essence of a person. My grandmother was one of those people, and photographer Hal Samples is too. He took this stunning picture of our Z, just weeks before her sixth birthday, while we were on vacation with extended family. The background was set up to take family portraits, but as the evening wore on, the photographs got sillier until people of all ages and sizes were jumping up and down getting mid-air shots of moms and dads and brothers and sisters. Z wanted to take one on her own and this was the first one.

This is our daughter. She is vibrant, funny and spontaneous, and has a boundless energy that has us constantly shaking our heads in amazement. This photo was taken well past her bedtime on the last night of a trip where she stayed up late most nights and popped out of bed early most mornings to play with cousins and new friends.

Happy Year Six, sweet Z. I hope you keep this joy and energy and love of play in your heart for all your days.