Jaden's 12th birthday celebrations were raked over two days. Both days turned out to be quite eventful. She first had a day on the town with her two best friends, Reese and Reagan, who are sisters. Just after Jaden finished up her last day of her Lollipop Learners summer camp, we hopped in the car for lunch and a gourmet cupcake downtown. Along the way they couldn't help but mimic these window models, making fun all the while. Finally, we just had to go into a shop and try on some things. These girls crack me up.
That evening Jaden was surprised with golfing with her dad and Reagan. But actually, she didn't golf. The point was to satisfy her wildest dream by allowing her to drive the golf cart. She has an obsession with golf carts. She's been asking for one as her only Christmas present these past 3 years. And since that hasn't happened she's now considering saving up for one on her own. She sure enjoyed cruising around with her bestie, sipping on coke while watching her dad use his mad skills on the golf course. Nothing says birthday like that. She was told to take lots of pics along the way since I wasn't there.
Friday, her actual birthday, began with presents in bed.
Nothing like a jar of Goober (peanut butter and jelly made easy in a jar) to derive a reaction like that. She was sincere in her joy there.
Oreos from Ty.
It was both the last day of summer and Jaden's birthday, so we decided to head for Schlitterbahn. It's serious fun there. Apparently, so much fun was had by these three that every last one of them zonked on the way home.
We can't quite grasp the fact that this girl is 12. Twelve means thirteen is just around the corner and being the parents of a teenager is simply unfathomable. Let's not go there. Let's slow this train down. Let's enjoy 12 things we adore about a 12 year old Jaden.
12. Sis is twelve going on 20. She is mature and responsible.
11. She is confident. I have been interested in watching how Jaden adapts to new crowds of her peers. I don't get to witness it at her school (although I'd love to) but because I take her to her sports and get to sit around I've observed that she really is outgoing. This being a year that she participated on two different volleyball teams (one club and one at school), as well as two different soccer teams (started with one team and moved up to another). She's the girl wanting to make up a team cheer with a lot of spirit. She roots her teammates on at every opportunity.
10. Jaden is self-disciplined. I'm really jotting that down to remind myself, so I'll stand out of her way. I mean who signs themselves up for math tutorials the 2nd week of school?
9. She's a singer. The day we don't hear Jaden belting songs or warm up scales we'll be sure she's lost her voice . . . from doing just that. Otherwise, the only reason she stops singing is to eat or because we've shushed her so we can form a thought or do some homework around here, etc. : ) That girl can't stop singing and, by the way, she has only one volume. Loud.
8. She's got a soft spot for animals, just like her dad. Her heart falls out. She put $100 towards saving the limb of her hedgehog this summer without batting an eye.
7. I'm so glad she's not drama at school. (She might be at home but I'm afraid I might be cause for some of that. Jaden and I are very similar. We clash sometimes. I digress.) I'm hearing all sorts of "drama girl" stories from her that take place at school. Some of these girls sure do make much ado about nothing. I'm glad she makes nothing of it and tries to see the bigger picture.
6. She's STILL in competition with her little brother. We can't figure out why. She bugs him like a plague. But I know if push came to shove she'd bend over backwards for him. Unless that included cleaning his toilet for him.
5. Still dislikes piano but is really good at it.
4. Can so often be found cuddled up next to her dad on the couch, tucked right into his side. You know, the spot where you can't get any closer to the guy.
3. Creator of Dead Club. (more on that later)
2. Thrilled to have earned her way out of Primary to join Young Women. (Where I made sure to follow her. Do you know that manual was written the year I was born?? Come on now.)
1. Quite the entrepreneur with her Lollipop summer camp. I think she earned somewhere around $600 this year while making 8 little girls very happy.
