"13" Calls for Pierced Ears!

After school on Mackenzie's birthday, we met Daddy at Penn Square Mall to have lunch at Panda Express, Mackenzie's favorite. That's all we were planning to do at the mall, but then somehow the subject of getting Mackenzie's ears pierced came up. I know its something she's been wanting to do, but has been too scared, for quite a while. With all of her ear tubes and the issues she's had with that, I think the thought of doing anything else to her ears has just not been worth it for her. Until today!! I was shocked when she said she wanted to get her ears pierced! And so excited...no better day to do it, than on your 13th birthday! The decision was made so quickly that she didn't have too much time to be nervous. I will tell you who was nervous though...me...because of the lady who was doing the piercing...she kept marking Mackenzie's ears with a marker and erasing the dots over and over...it literally took her 10 minutes to decide where the earrings should go. Brian and I kept looking at each other, like, "is this going to be okay?" I was literally praying that this wasn't a complete disaster, and she ended up doing a great job! Because there was only one person working in Claire's at the time, they weren't able to pierce both ears at the same time. Mackenzie was a champ & barely even flinched! We paid a little extra for the more powerful cleaning solution, that heals the ears in just 2 weeks, instead of 6-8 weeks, and that was a very smart move. Mackenzie was very happy afterwards & I know she's relieved that its done! This is something we will always remember doing on her 13th birthday! 

This is definitely a nervous face...

Ear #1:

Ear #2:

It was fun to have Daddy there with us for this! 

And of course Madison was great moral support, since she's had her ears pierced for a few years now. I think she was a little disappointed to not be the only one with pierced ears anymore...middle child syndrome, ya know?! 

Officially THIRTEEN!

Mackenzie's birthday got off to a happy start, with our family tradition of bringing her breakfast in bed, opening a few presents & singing "Happy Birthday" in our sleepy voices. Then it was time to get ready and rush out the door for school. It felt very strange to me, to not be taking birthday treats to school for her...but that's not something they do in Secondary...waahhh!!! It was fun that her birthday fell on a Wednesday, so she only had a half day and we could go out to lunch. 

My baby is a TEENAGER... #cuetears #surelynot

One of the things we got Mackenzie was this origami owl necklace that she has talked nonstop about wanting. It was fun to pick charms to put in it...a book, Hedwig, the Deathly Hallows HP symbol, a cross, an M, and a pretty pink rose.

I love how they love each other! 

Love this smile! 

Mackenzie's 13th Birthday Letter

Mackenzie,

Today we celebrate 13 years with you...156 months...4,745 days, 284,700 minutes...17,082,000 seconds...I guess what they say is true...time really does fly when you're having fun! 

I remember hearing you cry for the first time like it was yesterday, (after the most excruciating 19 hours of my life) it was the sweetest sound I had ever heard. At that moment, my life was forever changed in the most incredible way! What an absolute gift you are to our family! 

You have a servants heart, you love people and you LOVE to talk (and talk, and talk, and talk)! You are a huge help to me around the house and you are a great big sister! You are beautiful, creative, funny & very smart. If you disappear, its usually because you are in a quiet place reading a book. You aren't afraid to be yourself & we love that about you! You are a friend to everyone, no matter their popularity status. You love all things Star Wars, Avengers & Harry Potter. You eat ketchup on literally everything (including scrambled eggs, which momma can hardly stand to look at) and you have learned bad icing habits from G-Ma! You are wise beyond your years and you are responsible & respectful to others. We are so proud of the young lady you are now & who you are going to become in this next chapter of your life. Our deepest prayer for you, Mackenzie, is that you would always love and follow Jesus and put him first in all you do. Matthew 6:33 is my favorite verse in the Bible and the first one I really remember memorizing..."Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you as well." I am praying that verse over you as you begin this next chapter of your life. 

Daddy and I are so thankful to God for the tremendous blessing it is to be your parents! And just remember...just because Daddy and I became "boyfriend & girlfriend" at the end of our 13th year (EEEEKKK!), that doesn't mean you need to start looking for a boyfriend! Ha, ha! That's how God wrote our story though, and we are just glad we get a front row seat to watch him write yours! 

I love you deeply & look forward to your teenage years.

Happy Birthday, sweet girl!

Love Always,

Your #1 Fan

Momma

#imnotcryingyourecrying

#andifeelold

National "Cowboy Hall of Fame" Field Trip

Madison had her first field trip of 5th grade, to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (or Cowboy Hall of Fame, as I've always known it). This was an Art field trip, so they mostly spent the entire time there looking at the paintings and sculptures. Daddy and I went to the museum part of the field trip, but skipped out on their lunch at CiCi's afterwards. 

Madison rode with her friends Kyah and Madelyn.

We love this girl to pieces! 

Brian and I stayed for a few extra minutes and looked around the museum on our own.