This week we celebrated Haley's 12th birthday. How is that even possible? I swear it was only a few years ago that she was our big-brown-eyed toddler with a tiny ponytail and exceptional speech abilities. Now she's our big-brown-eyed tween with pierced ears and all kinds of exceptional abilities.  |
| Valarie and Haley, 2005 |
As her birthday fell on a school day (her friends decorated her locker for her), we celebrated at home that night with a BBQ dinner (hurray for unseasonably warm weather!), cake and presents. Haley requested a "mini" chocolate cake with a peanut butter frosting filling, and our Ultimate Chocolate Frosting with chopped Reese's peanut butter cups. She's definitely my child!
She then got to go to Young Womens' (our church youth program) for the first time. She was nervous to go, but had a great time.
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| Mints!!! |
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| Par-tay! |
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Hula hoopin'
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| Thanking Jake for his gift of a Sam's Club pack of mint gum. |
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| Chatting with Grandma. |
I can't imagine how different our family would be without this amazing girl. She's my best girlfriend, a superb big sister, and the unofficial activities director for the neighborhood kids. Her sweet spirit blesses all of us, and we love her dearly.
At 12 years old, Haley:-Is the peacemaker in our home. She's always quick to help resolve arguments and dissipate bad moods.
-Is responsible and reliable - getting up and ready for school on her own, getting her homework done, helping with chores, making meals when asked, and more. UNLESS she's in the middle of a good book - then it all goes out the window.
-Loves, loves, loves to read. She's expanding her literary repertoire, but still enjoys re-reading Harry Potter quite often.
-Plays violin in the school orchestra, sang with the Accordo Voce choir of the Grand Cities Children's Choir this past year, and takes weekly piano lessons. Her musical knowledge and abilities continue to impress us.
-Takes weekly Jazz Dance classes, and loves the fast pace and high energy of the music and dances. She doesn't get nervous before recitals and is thinking of taking ballet again in the fall.
-Can often be found high in the tree in the front yard, reading.
-Still loves to climb anything possible, much to the amusement/anxiousness of the kids/parents nearby.
-Expresses her creativity and love of art through drawing, sketching, crafting, writing and directing plays, and taking surprisingly great photos with her i-phone.
-Enjoys baking, and makes a mean chocolate chip cookie. Feel free to ask her for our "secret" family recipe.
-Has a strong sense of right and wrong, and impresses us with her integrity. She's a good example to her brothers and friends.
-Cares deeply, loves with her whole heart, and is sensitive to the needs of others.
WE LOVE YOU, HALEY!
