Happy 14th Birthday Marin!

Happy 14th birthday to our firstborn! She planned a big party for herself with all her friends, and detailed out all the games, food and cake herself. I love it.

Beware, I'm about to brag (this is allowed on birthdays).

She is a girl who knows what she wants. Her favorite things are hanging out with friends, reading and snuggling the dog. She is a rockstar at school, regularly going above and beyond in school work, helping a friend, and thanking her teachers. A couple weeks ago, she make all her teachers coffee cake, just because. There is no need for this child to butter them up either, because her incredible work ethic and smarts stand on their own. She just wanted to do something nice.

She cares about her friends, and although we are in the stage where she doesn't need/want to share a whole lot of details of life with her parents, she has done so recently in order to advocate for someone in need. I'm so proud of her for this.

She is on a middle school leadership council for Hillsboro, and is in the middle of planning a huge city event planned for June. I love that she has interests outside herself.

She makes her own lunch, does her own laundry, walks her dog, faithfully practices her violin and regularly finds someone to stand up for.

If all this sounds like someone who might just be growing up, well (sniff sniff) you would be right. As much as it's hard to say goodbye to the little years, what lies ahead for this young lady is a beautiful sight because she is growing in independence and beauty.

Moms have a hard time with the changes sometimes, but I've heard it gets easier and the butterfly struggling to get out of that cocoon is worth changing for.

We love you, our darling Marin!!

Minute to Win It games

13 teenagers having fun

We sing boisterously in this family!

Playing Mafia

Designed by a teenager: pop rocks and lollipops 

Birthday cereal

New volleyball necklace

We surprised her at school with cupcakes!

Birthday girl's request: musubi's

14 years young!