Miriam's 12th

Oh Miriam, I can't believe you are 12. You have grown up so fast. You are such a light. You are kind, helpful, empathetic, smart, fun, spiritual, and strong. I am constantly amazed by you. You have an impressive amount of self-control for a 12 year old (or for an adult). You really value family time and connection. You hate it when any of us are engaged with devices rather than being focused on each other. It is the best. I love your good example to all of us. You are amazing at scripture study. You are so strong and work so hard. But what really astounds me is that you work without complaining and work until the job is done. It blows me away. You are the best, Miriam. I am thankful everyday to be your mom. We hit the jackpot to have you in our family. 

You love reading, especially adventure romances. You love fantasy. You love laughing with your friends. You have handled the adjustment to middle school like a champion. I think it is awesome that you are still such good friends with your elementary school friends. You are so so smart. I can't believe how well you are handling all of your gifted classes. You are a rockstar. You love singing in your school choir and MCO. You have a lovely voice, and I love to hear you sing. You taught yourself to play the ukulele over the summer and are trying the clarinet this school year. I love that you aren't scared to try things. Well, maybe you could be more scared--at least when we're on trips and you have climbed up on precarious rocks while we are hiking. :) You rocked it at swim team this summer. You are aware of being physically active and try to keep your body strong. I think it is so cute when you and Ellie do yoga in the morning, especially in the yard. You girls are adorable. 

At home, you are so helpful. That is really understating it. You are just as capable as your older sister but not quite as busy. This means that you often have more than your fair share of helping with households tasks. You are so kind to help me and Daddy without complaint. You personify the attitude we try to cultivate at our home of being a team player. We are all on a team, and we do what we can to help the team be successful, even if it means being asked to make a salad more often than you'd think. You are a girl after my own heart. When either of us is stressed you look to see what can be tidied in the room to help the stress decrease. I really appreciate how much you just clean up without being asked. You are incredible. 

What do you like daydreaming about? What I would do if I could freeze time, such as gorge myself on chocolate and walk across the ocean. What I would do if I married a billionaire, such as use all of his money.

What is something about you that you think I might not know? I think Minions are really cute. I need to get my stem fair project done...in the next two weeks.

What have your friends been up to? Reading, coding, being bored out of our minds in coding, playing games, having fun in 3D art, choir, social dance. 

What's a memory that makes you happy? The first Christmas that we did advent. Going downstairs to see the envelopes. 

What do you look forward to when you wake up? Listening to you read to Holland (Dragon Slippers Trilogy).

Let's say you're at the beach: What's the first thing you do? Run towards the ocean and splash in it for a minute, then build a sand castle.

What makes you feel brave? Climbing on top of a big rock.

What makes you feel loved? Hugs

How do you show people you care? Hugging them and being concerned for them and asking them how they're doing.

If you could give $100 to a charity, what charity would you choose? Feeding kids

How would you design a treehouse? First I would go get some wood and make the basic trapdoor, pulley up to it and three main buildings, one would be for crafts/anything related to puzzles, something you do with your hands. Shelfs would line the walls with materials and also fun logic puzzle fidget toys. PSG, paint splattering guns would be a part of this room as well and there would be a stove in the corner for cooking ceramic makings/random things. The next would be for books, you would have blankets and pillows and luvsacs and squishmallows and all soft things on this planet on the floor and bookshelves lining it. SO SO SO SO SO Many books. Kotlc, Harry Potter, Michael Vey, the works. Then the last one would be for plants, all the macramé plant hangers and hammocks, it would have tons of light and lots and LOTS AND LOTS of plants and some cute snack baskets. (I forgot the gourmet chocolate making room where the whole purpose is making chocolate and chocolate balls and EVERYTHING CHOCOLATE!!! There would be a tray of chocolate in every room for the purpose of snacking.)

If you wrote a book, what would it be about?  Fantasy and magic, and there would definitely be romance. 

What would your romantic hero look like? Cute. I don't trust blond guys. He would probably have brown hair. I don't care what color his eyes are. He could totally be skinny and nerdy too. He wouldn't have to be big and brawny. He would have to have social skills too. 

If you designed clothes, what would they look like? Big, long, floofy, balls gowns. Long, drapey sleeves with a defined color scheme, especially with gold in it, because I like gold better than silver. 

How do you best like helping others? Making them food because I like baking. Or giving them hugs. Or talking them through it. Or food. 

What makes you feel thankful? Whenever I read a story about someone who had a sad or unfortunate life. 

If you lived in a cave in the woods, what would be inside it? Clothing. A lot of food and firewood. A lot of natural rock shelves. Some sort of bed made out of moss and sticks. I would make myself a table. 

What makes you feel energized? Dancing and listening to music with my family. When I sing a song really, really, really fast. 

What makes your friends so awesome? They are really understanding and sympathetic about everything. We all have similar interests so we can talk/argue about them all day. We always have something to talk about. 

What makes you so awesome? I stand up for my friends a lot. I remember details pretty well. I get good grades. I am obedient. I organized my computer files really well. I have been better about washing my hair. 

What are three things you want to do this summer? Go to park with my family. I want to do a large poster to record our favorite things from the summer. A Caribbean cruise that is 3 weeks long.

If you had friends all over the world, how would you keep in touch? Zoom calls with all of them and individually. 

If you joined the circus, what would your circus act be? Circular breathing with singing really weird. 

If you were a teacher and could teach your students anything at all, what would you teach them? Common sense, kindness, and social sense.

If a friend asked you to keep a secret that you don't feel comfortable keeping, what would you do? It depends on what kind of secret it is. If it is something little I would maybe tell. If it is something big I would tell my parents.

It was such a joy celebrating Miriam on her birthday. For breakfast she wanted sweet and savory crepes. For lunch she wanted avocado toast and smoothie. For dinner we had pork salad. She made her own birthday treat the day before of triple chocolate scones. As far as presents she really got everything she asked for--Keeper of the Lost Cities, hair tinsel kit, $50 towards music playlist, a cactus from Ellie. The only surprise was Uncle Daniel's botanical Legos. One sweet moment was that we all played together in the sandbox. 

All decorated the night before for the birthday girl in the morning.

She helped me make her birthday dessert the night before--triple chocolate scones.

Sandbox time--in dresses?

All dressed fancy, but Mommy has an apron on.

Her birthday dress arrived before it was time to do presents.

Happy girl!

What a sweetheart! Happy birthday Miriam! We love you!!!

Eliza 12th Birthday

Honestly, how cute is this girl??! I can't believe she is 12 already! 

I wanted to do a little birthday interview with this girl. 

If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation where would you go?

Europe: Paris or Italy or something. I really want to see the Lourve in Paris, because it sounds amazing to see all those famous works of Art. I also want to go to Greece to see the Parthenon. 

If you were an ice cream flavor, which one would you be? why? 

I would be strawberry cheesecake because I don't know. I am a fairly normal person except a few things like the cheesecake bits. I am really good at singing. I am the oldest of four girls. I really like reading. I have been in NEHS and NJHS. 

What is your favorite cereal? 

Corn flakes or Oat Squares.

What is your favorite candy?

Gummy Bears

What is your favorite board game?

Probably Wingspan or Settlers. 

Are you a morning or a night person? What are your favorite activities in each time?

I feel like normally I am a morning person unless I have stayed up really late the last night. I like waking up, eating breakfast, reading until 9 am, and then getting dressed. I don't like sleeping in super long. I feel like I am wasting time. That might be affected in the Summer the light shines right on me from the window so it is light enough for me to do whatever I want to. 

What is your favorite book you've read recently? What about it makes it your favorite?

I have really been liking rereading the Unwanted series. I think it is a really good mix of fantasy and adventure with a little bit of  romance. 

What is your favorite school subject and project?

My favorite subject is science. I think my favorite project this year was Create an Exoplanet project. I really liked all of the creativity that I could put into it. 

If you were a crayon, what color would you be and why?

Lavender because it is my favorite color. 

What is your favorite season of the year?

I like spring because all of the plants are pretty and the weather is nice. 

What is your favorite part of KDA?

I like that I can sleep in in the mornings, and don't feel rushed. I also like that I am in my own room. I can move around and be comfortable and walk around the house on my breaks. 

Mommy snapped a picture of me when I was yawning.

What is your favorite food? Treat?

I really liked the Dedication Casserole that we made recently. I also like spicy tacos. I like Italian food, like noodles and pizza. I love German Pancakes. 

What are you looking forward to in this coming year?

I am looking forward to Summer Break!! I'm also excited for our Utah vacation, Florida, and especially our Panama Canal Cruise!!!!! I'm really excited to go on a cruise for the first time. I want to explore and see everything, especially the water slides. The Dr. Seuss breakfast will be really fun, and I can't wait for the water slides!!! I'm also looking forward to being fully vaccinated. I'm getting my second dose on June 4th. 

What is your biggest strength? Weakness?

I think my biggest strength is that I'm creative. I'm good at writing and coming up with new things. I'm not very good at sports though.

What is your favorite thing about YOU?

I'm fun and have fun ideas.

What are the first 10 things you are grateful for?

My family, the gospel, house, yard, nature, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, traveling, swimming.

If you won a million dollars, what would you buy? 

I would build an amazing house with a big yard and secret passages and book lots of travels and donate a lot.

What does your mom always say to you?

I love you.

What job would you like to do when you grow up?

Preferably, I would be a stay at home mom. If not, I want to do something in astronomy or biology. 

At what age do you become a grown up? What makes you a grown up in other ways?

You legally become an adult at age 18. When I was little, I thought you became a grown up when you are 20. I think you become an adult when you are mature enough to be one.

What's your favorite song?

I really like A Child's Prayer. I also like Memories and Barefoot Blue Jean Night.

What's your favorite activity?

I love to spend time with my family hiking, swimming, and playing board games. I also like to read.

How many kids do you want? 

I maybe want 2-4.

What are you scared of?

Spiders, cliffs with nothing to keep you from going over, stumbling on a steep part, me or someone I love getting hurt.

What kind of car do you want when you grow up? Where do you want to live?

I want to have a nice minivan. I want to live in a nice place that doesn't have too many tourists, with nice neighbors and good schools.

Describe your birthday? What did you do and eat? What were your surprises and presents?

I woke up and went to school. Daddy was up, so we had Crème Brue le French toast. In Social Studies, everyone sung me happy birthday, which doesn't work very well over Zoom. For dinner, we had lemon garlic chicken wraps. The Davises came with their grandparents, so we shared dinner and dessert. I got a fire pit, a marble track, and a dolphin and unicorn mini squishmallows. I paid all of my Christmas money ($20) so I could get both. Mommy, Daddy, and I worked that out. I really like the little arrow pattern on the fire pit.

What advice would you give yourself when you turned 11 one year ago? 

I would tell myself that when you get a bunkbed, be SO careful with the ceiling fan. :( Also, don't be scared of downhill slopes, enjoy the pool, and don't scratch moleskum. 

A surprise gift from Uncle Daniel: two sets of Legos!!

 What has Young Women's been like so far?

It's been really fun! I like talking with them, and it's fun to make things with them. I think they're nice.

Thank you Ellie for filling out these questions for us. I think you are just a delightful 12 year old. This definitely feels like a milestone. Young Women's, middle school, starting puberty--it's all getting real. We couldn't be more proud of the young lady you are turning into. 

I guess part of growing up means that your doctor's appointments change. This time you filled out a questionnaire about drugs, alcohol, and sex that I wasn't supposed to look at. What?? How could you be old enough that the doctor is concerned about those kinds of things with kids your age. Also, they didn't give me percentiles about your growing body. I guess they don't do those after a certain age. All I know is that you've hit a bit of growth spurt. You're a few inches shorter than me. And our feet are almost the same size. You could definitely wear some of my snugger shoes if you felt like it. Because you are all of the sudden taller, it means that you have been riding in the front seat of the car when we go places. 

You are also old enough to be in the younger teenage bracket for getting a covid vaccine. Even though you are getting so much older and wiser sometimes you still say things that makes us chuckle. Here are some from this last year: 

Ellie: I probably shed less than a dog. John: You probably shed less than your mother.

Eliza: Look at those old-fashioned mailboxes. Aren't they so cute? (They were regular mailboxes.)

Ellie: let's discuss the biodiversity of a tropical rainforest ecosystem. (Listening in to E and M's hiking conversations.)

Miriam: Ellie, what's your favorite kind of engineer? "Aerospace!" (Obviously!)

Ellie: Grandma is crafty, but not in the conniving way, in the arts and crafts way.

There are so many things we love about you. We love your curiosity and joy of learning. We love how nurturing you are to little Darcy (you are hand's down her favorite except when she's hungry). We love how much you love to play board and card games with us even when you don't win. We love how much you love reading and how you laugh with delight at funny things you read. We love how capable you are in so many ways. You are becoming a pretty good cook and can follow a good recipe. You have a lovely singing voice and are crazy talented at the piano. We love how much you love science and learning and building. We love your good attitude. A lot of things have been thrown at you this year: middle school, online learning, new baby, more responsibility, isolation from friends and no breaks from family, starting YW, dealing with moleskum and toe walking issues, learning to take care of your body in news ways as you are hitting puberty, changing rooms, and much more. You are so creative and fun! We feel so lucky that you're in our family. Happy birthday beautiful girl!

Love you zillions and zillions!