TODAY SHE TURNED TWELVE!

On the menu....her favorites. Grilled Talapia, artichokes with my special dipping sauce, white rice and sparkling lemonade. We ate in our backyard. Her birthday gift....TEXTING. She has had a cell phone for a year now with no texting privileges. She has been 99.5% good with that rule. When we gave her a phone last year for her birthday it was a hand-me-down, but she was thrilled. We told her for her next birthday (this one) she could get a new phone and texting. She did! And she has been texting all night. We could barely get her off to open her presents from the grandparents! Here are some pics.

Don't look too closely. She requested a homemade chocolate cake with chocolate frosting from scratch and mini chocolate chips. It tasted yummy. But what do you expect with two sticks of butter in the recipe!

Turning 12 is a big deal in our church. It is the age you leave the children's program and join the youth program! One of the leaders of the Young Women's group surprised her with a "heart attack" in her bedroom while she was gone at school. When she came home...she was so surprised! It was a great way to welcome her into becoming a young woman.

And here are my 12 things I love about that girl:

1. She is sensitive.

2. She is kind.

3. Her love for horses and whales.

4. Her passion for animal cruelty especially with the two animals above. One of her favorite shows right now that she is ultra passionate about: Whale Wars.

5. Her sense of style. When she was three years old I could come out of my bedroom with a good shoe on and a better shoe on. She would always pick the better shoe!

6. Her love for her brother.

7. Her faith in prayer.

8. Her awareness of the answers to her prayers.

9. Her disgust in anorexia, swearing, drinking, smoking and sex. That reminds me, I must tell about the story of how the 'birds and the bees' talk went with her one day soon. It is hilarious and one that needs to be written.

10. She works hard for what she wants...whether it is good grades in school or trying to learn a new skill in gymnastics. Wish she wanted to keep a cleaner bedroom!

11. She is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.

12. Her loyalty towards her family.

I love you, Kaia. You are a true treasure to our family. And one more I thing I love about you....I absolutely adore your hugs. Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

Her birth story to follow tomorrow evening. I've been thinking about it all day and we all gathered around and looked through her first year scrapbook tonight. Oh the memories of our little 'birdie'!