This cute girl turned 13! It is funny how for some birthdays, you can't believe that it is possible that this kid could be that old. I feel like this is the case most of the time for me. This was not actually the case for Miriam turning 13. She looks and acts so much older than she is, that for at least half of the year when she was twelve, I kept catching myself thinking she was 13. So it felt like I was finally right in thinking she was 13.
Miriam is so great. I don't know how I got so lucky to have so many great kids. She is kind to, patient with, and forgiving of me. I can honestly say she is one of my favorite people in the whole world. She is funny, hard working, super smart, organized, and just so sweet. I feel like some people only get to see certain sides of Miriam, and I feel honored to see who she is at home. She is truly the best of the best. I love how she is always up for hanging out as a family and doing something fun.
Miriam has been getting tons of babysitting jobs. She ends up babysitting for someone once and then before you know it, she has a regular income from them. The kids all love her. She is so responsible with her money too. She puts almost all of her babysitting money into her 529 account to save for college, except tithing of course. Miriam has served in two class presidencies so far, and even though she doesn't have great friends in the ward, she looks out for people and really tries to fulfill her callings.
Miriam loves to read romantasy books. She particularly likes an author by the name of Melanie Celliar who writes fairy tale retellings. Miriam is always reading if she can get away with it. :) This year (8th grade) Miriam has been doing a ton of choir. She is in Chamber and Acapella, not to mention MCO, which is a lot of choirs. She does so well at it! She is a great little singer and has really helped me learn how to sing alto, which is so nice of her. I am not great, but way better than I used to be. Recently, she told me that she would stay home with Darcy so I could go to ward choir with the rest of the family because according to her "I am in 3 other choirs, you can have this one." It was so nice of her! A new experience we have had because she is in Acapella is that there are a group of kids that want her attention and time, all of the time! I have never really had boys text my girls before. She still won't admit to any crushes, but she is at least learning to be friends with boys. Sometimes there is too much. One friend (a girl) texted her 15,000 times in the month of November! 15,000!! I don't know how that is even physically possible, but that is what the phone record shows. Thankfully Miriam is good about not responding all of the time, and not ditching our family when friends want to do things. I know that is a hard balance to maintain.
What's a skill you'd love to learn? I would love to learn how to bake sourdough bread because Nick Mena gave us some, and it was delicious!
What's a hobby you'd like to start? Journaling every day, I was going really good there for a minute but now I've kind of stagnated.
What's your favorite way to spend a free afternoon? My favorite way to spend a free afternoon is hanging out with the people who I love, playing games, reading books, just a really quiet nice fun afternoon.
What kind of music or movies do you enjoy? I like Taylor Swift and other artists as well. I like cute rom-coms, but I also have started liking heavier stuff, I still really really like rom-coms though.
What's a book, movie, or TV show that you'd recommend to others? I would recommend all of Melanie Cellier's books to people because they are really cute and they always get married in the end. None of this wishy-washy we are going to start dating stuff.
What's a unique talent you have? One unique talent I have is playing the clarinet, it's really fun and soothing, even if it does hurt my thumbs.
What's a place you'd like to travel to? I'd love to travel to Thailand or Japan, in fact, I'm planning on going there for my 16th birthday trip.
What's your favorite app on your phone? Libby and Apple Music, hands down the two most useful and entertaining apps on my phone. Also the only entertaining apps on my phone.
What's your favorite type of sandwich? I love a really good lunch meat sandwich, they are the best on hikes and literally everywhere else.
What's your favorite type of ice cream? It's still chocolate ganache. No matter how many times you ask me it's still going to be chocolate ganache.
What's the coolest thing you've ever done? Maybe swum with dolphins? It was really cool, it didn't actually happen this year, but I think it still counts.
What's a goal you have for this year? I want to exercise more, which will be easy because I am doing swim team.
What's a piece of advice you've received that you value? A lady came to our school and gave a fun speech, one of the things that stuck with me was that if you say affirmations before a test you do better on it.
What's something you're passionate about? My baby little succulents. I love them to bits. I am their plant mom who sprays them twice a day and stares at them way too much.
What's a current event you're following? Politics, Mrs. Eskeets, my US History teacher, keeps us up to date and current with what's happening, and it's crazy.
What's a skill you've always wanted to learn but haven't yet? Managing time, I am still a really bad procrastinator.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? Pausing time and being able to move in the paused time. I would have to not age and be able to unfreeze things/people that I want to.
What's the most interesting thing you've read or seen lately? Pirates of the Caribbean, I watched it for the first time recently and it is really really funny and interesting.
If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be and why? George Washington because he could help fix the country and the mess our government is creating.
What's one thing on your bucket list that you really want to do? Eat Indian chocolate. I don't know why but I've always really wanted to do that. I don't think they are even particularly known for making chocolate, I don't know?
What animal do you think best represents your personality? A house cat, sometimes soft and cuddly and nice, sometimes hissing and scratching and biting.
Who would play you in a movie about your life? Me? If it's a movie about me, I would have me play in it.
If you could invent a holiday, what would you celebrate? The day the printing press was invented. I love whoever invented it because now we have books.
If you could have any fictional character as a best friend, who would it be? I would want probably Toothless from How To Train Your Dragon. I love that dragon, and I want to fly.
On Miriam's birthday we had yummy foods and fun presents while we celebrated this darling girl. The Brocks came over for a while, which was fun! Miriam was so surprised at the Echo pop and all of the blue technology (ear buds, back up battery, echo for her room). It was pretty cute!
Happy Birthday my wonderful Miriam! I feel lucky everyday that I get to be your mom! You are truly amazing. Love you more than I can say!
