Erica turns 12

 Well, that can't be right. She doesn't look 12. 

Darn it, I thought that would be funny but that just made me sad.

 The night before her birthday she had an orchestra concert. She's the one with the only black violin.

Her concert was the same night as young women's so her entire class and leaders came to support her and the other girls in the ward that were playing that night.

She stayed to watch the later concerts so James and I decorated the house for her birthday until she got home.

Birthday morning! 

 

This is the dress we brought home from Mexico. We finally got our luggage a couple of days before this so she got it just in time.

She also got Bop-it and a stool for her room. She chose crepes for breakfast.

She wore the new clothes Nana bought her on a shopping trip earlier that week.

I picked up a gaggle of giggly girls from school and brought them home. They played outside (this is the year without winter) played in her room, climbed trees, played ping-pong and decorated cupcakes. This wasn't her year for a friend party but that just means I don't put much effort into things and they have to keep it simple and lowkey.

The girls went home before dinner and Erica chose alfredo and broccoli. Then she wanted to go on a birthday ride on Justin's motorcycle which they had to do before grandparents came over for dessert.

She made us sing in the style of super duper happy.

We sure love this girl.

A few things you may not know about Erica

She doesn't like school this year. I didn't like sixth grade one bit either so I can relate and say all the things to her I can think of to make it better but it's just something she's going to have to adjust to. 

She loves the temple so much. She asks to go all the time.

Don't ever tell her she's short. She hates that.

She gets so goofy sometimes and is so funny. It's a side of her not everyone gets to see.

She's very tenderhearted which serves her well in making friendships but it also means she gets her feelings hurt easily. We talk a lot that it's not rude to stand up for yourself or tell people they are being jerks when they are being jerks.

She first and foremost wants to be a mom when she grows up. She'd also wants to be a 4th grade teacher alongside her 4th grade teacher Miss Blaisdell. 

When she grows up she wants to live next door to us. I'm all for it.