Happy 12th Birthday Sadie!

 I LITERALLY don't know how we are already here again and how this first baby of ours can possibly be 12 already.  SERIOUSLY MAKE IT STOP!!!!

I've always been nervous about the teenage years.  Babies and toddlers I can do.  They're exhausting but mostly predictable.  Having teenagers on the other hand... I mean I just don't know?!?  Anyway I'm definitely not saying I'm in any way ready, but I will say that the closer we get, at least with Sadie, the idea is growing on me.  

Every year Sadie's personality comes out a little bit more.  She's given what we call the stink eye ever since she was a baby but now it comes with a side of humor that still takes me by surprise once in awhile.  She's so very responsible and helpful and kind.  She's the reigning Mario Kart Queen in our house and relentless smack talker.  She loves hanging out with her brothers, or her little sisters, or her friends.  She is as direct as she is confident in who she is and yet she still asks her Daddy to tuck her in every night.  We honestly couldn't be more proud or thankful that she is ours.

Happy 12th Birthday to the leader of our pack!!!

As is our tradition Sadie wok up to donuts and presents.

After school Sadie played and won her last volleyball game of the season.

Since we had a game and didn't get home until later we ended the day with pizza and ice cream sandwiches.

And then we remembered we never stopped at Dutch Bros for her free birthday coffee.  Nooooo!!!!

So Uncle Robert ran her to town for not 1 but 2 HUGE drinks.

Over the weekend we had a chance to celebrate with the rest of the family.

The Oregon Zoo

Grammy and I took the youngest 3 girls to the zoo this fall while the big kids were in school.  The big kids weren't to happy about this of course, but sometimes it's nice to do things in a smaller group and really enjoy these little years with these last ones.

Aubrey and Maddie

Maddie

Evie

Aubrey

Grammy and Maddie

Build-A-Bear

Grammy takes each of the kids to Build-A-Bear for their 2nd birthday to pick out a stuffed animal and the older kids get to pick out new outfits for their bears.  We waited quite awhile to take Aubrey and Maddie because of all the COVID requirements.  Apparently for awhile they weren't allowed to touch anything in the store which sounded like my worst nightmare!  Anyway, so we were excited when we finally got to go in September!  

Stuffing Aubrey's Bear

Maddie picked out a kitty.

They weren't so sure about helping to fill the bears.

Luckily we brought big sister to show them how it's done.

Next they picked out so many accessories!

Aubrey

Maddie

Aubrey

And then these big girls carried their own bears to the car.

Maddie

Aubrey

Maddie

Aubrey

Evie

I couldn't help but look back on all our other Build-A-Bear trips over the years.

Oh how true it is that the days are long but the years are short.

Sadie and Cuddles

Wyatt and Rusty Bear

Cooper and Floppy

Hazel and Honey Bunny

Evie and Lovey Bunny

Thank you Grammy for the fun tradition and memories!