Colette's Birthday!

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY is COMING YOUR WAY!!!

COLETTE TURNED 12 THIS YEAR!

A big milestone like that deserves a PARTY!

She opted for a swim party

(she's been planning it for a year)

and of course

it RAINS!

So these resourceful tweens filled up the kiddie pool

with boiling hot water

and still had fun.

Oh, to be 12.

We even made an ice cream cake!

Thanks weather.

You ruined everything.

But you know what?

Nothing can dampen Colette's spirits!

We went in and watched

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

and the laughing just never stopped!

Some great things about Colette:

This year, she has made the cheer squad for Jr. High.

She practices her dances, jumps, splits and even tumbling.

She is very strong and loves being the base of the pyramid.
She says her favorite part 

is the thrill of throwing someone up high in the air.

Her least favorite part is the ginormous JoJo Siwa style bow,

that she has to wear of the top of her head.

I'm not even allowed to photograph it.

We were really proud of her on the first day of school,

she came home to tell us she qualified for a high school level class!

It's really hard,

and she's really stressed about it.

But, I'm just proud of her to be considered 

because of how well her grades were last year.

She is an avid reader.

At night when I do my nightly rounds

to make sure none of my kids have exploded

without my supervision,

I can usually find her in her room late at night reading.

She likes all kinds of books.

She is really funny and spontaneous.

Very often she will jump at you from out of nowhere

and laugh her head off that she scared you!

In the last couple of weeks,

she has lost about 6 teeth!

It's crazy!

I don't have anymore cash!

We have to leave IOU's under her pillow,

that's how fast her teeth are coming out!

She is a very good friend.

She chooses her friends carefully.

She goes out of her way to be kind to everyone.

Especially at church 

where there is always a quiet girl in the corner.

And with all of this,

she is turning out to be a real beautiful girl.

She asked me to do ombre highlights in her hair again

and she is allowed the tiniest amount of make-up

because she frankly just doesn't need it.

I really enjoy looking at her beautiful face.

Especially when she smiles.