Alaina's Bday

Alaina always chooses Benihana for her birthday dinner. I love having traditions in our family and something we started a few years ago was Dave and I taking only the birthday kid out for a special dinner, instead of the whole family. Now there are no complaints about food and the kids get all the attention on their turn.

Alaina is such a great daughter and we are so thankful to have her. I can't believe she is in high school already...life goes way too fast.

Since I had just had my surgery, I told the girls we couldn't do a party yet, but that I would take them to the movies with a few friends. We did family presets at home and did a little clothes shopping (always a hit with a girls and a punishments for the boys...)

Contacts

Becca has been wanting contacts for a while but I wasn't sure if she could handle taking care of them. I finally decided to let her give it a try for her birthday and brought her to a surprise optomotrist appointment while we were at Costco. She did great and hasn't had any problems at all in the past month and a half! Her eyes are even more beautiful now that they aren't hidden. I always told her she was pretty with her braces and glasses, but I guess she didn't believe me. She told me she has now been "denerdified". Is that a word?

Becca's Bday

Fujian has been Becca's favorite restaurant since we discovered it about 5 years ago.

My brother Brian and his wife Leeandra came to help when I had my hip surgery so they were here to celebrate Becca's 12th birthday. She was so glad they could come too.

I can't believe Becca is in Young Womens now and she looks so grown up. What a wonderful daughter and blessing she is!