I really have been in a bit of denial about this birthday. As usual, since late April through the end of May is traditionally super busy, it snuck up on us a bit. You known, someone said to me during the week of their birthday something about how "next year" when they turn 13 is the BIG ONE. While I didn't say it out loud, my first thought, screaming in my head, was, "Holy Cow, if I am this emotional this year, I am going in to hiding next year! And to me, this one is HUGE! I don't even WANT to think about next year. NEXT YEAR!?!?! Let me get through this one first!". I cannot believe they are twelve.
They had a hard time deciding what to do for a "party." The last 2 years we have had a sleepover for them. 2 years ago was not a great experience, and last year was plain awful, so we had vetoed that idea. The girls decided they wanted to take a few friends to see a movie. Disney's "Million Dollar Arm" was coming out the weekend after their birthday, so we decided to get a group together to go see that on Saturday afternoon. They seemed pretty excited about it. But, they have the coolest bonus dad EVER! You know what he did Friday night as a surprise (to us all)? He drove around town to their friends' homes and let them "ambush" them - ring the bell, get parental permission, pack a bag, and get in the car as quickly as possible - for a sleepover! The "Ambush Sleepover" was born. Emma and Lara loved it, and so did their friends. Such a fun way to celebrate! And the movie on Saturday? SUCH a great story! They all really enjoyed it - and so did Britt, Jake and I! (We sat away from the girls and their friends - just watching them from a far...). After the movie, we took all the kids home, and the girls went with their Other Dad for the rest of the weekend. So, without much planning and the usual fanfare, we had a GREAT birthday weekend with them!
And then, life with 12 year olds was under way. It is dance recital season around here so we have all that going on with Lara. She has had studio rehearsal, picture day, junior company clinic and tryouts, and dress rehearsal is today. Emma ended volleyball season and has found a way to spend as much time as she can with her friends away from this house. LOL! School ended. They both received certificates for being on the Straight A Honor Roll first semester and Lara received an outstanding music student award. Emma scored highly on her math placement test and was recommended for Pre-AP math next year by her teacher, and she has accepted the challenge. 7th grade, here we come - ready or not! I simply could not be more proud of these two amazing orange haired, spunky girls!
But I blinked. It all happened so fast. There was a very real time in my life when I thought they would be the only babies I ever had. It was not what I had dreamed, but I knew I was so lucky, and so very blessed. Not long after that there was a time in my life where it was JUST US GIRLS! The three of us, surviving on our own, trying to conquer the world; they were my world. Then we ended up here - this large, loud family with an amazing man leading us in Christ and working his tail off to provide for us (tween girls are expensive), two little brothers in Jake and Finn to pester and love, guide and teach. (Emma and Lara have changed HUNDREDS of diapers and gotten invaluable baby sitting experience - things I had no idea about at 12!). They are smart, happy, God-loving servants of Christ. They are sweet and compassionate, and they both love to cook. They each have very distinct differences, but it's in the similarities that my heart smiles. They are 2 peas in a pod, even when life takes them in different directions. I am so proud to be their momma. So lucky to guide them as they grow. So blessed by their love.
Don't blink. Don't wish away the hard stages of childhood. Cherish them. Embrace them. Then love the outcome...
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