Happy 13th Birthday Shayla

Wow, look at all those presents

Shayla's friends Elcee and Mariah

We are all excited for doughnuts

Believe this or not, but Shayla is an official teenager (shhh, don't tell anyone, especially Shayla.  Just kidding, she has been counting down for a couple weeks and the last week she reminded me everyday).  We are so proud of the young woman she is becoming.  I can't believe I have a teenager...it just doesn't feel like it was 13 years ago I gave birth to my first child.  I can still remember a lot of details about that wonderful night.  She changed who I was and made me a mother.  I love you Shayla.

For her birthday, she had a couple friends over to spend the day with her and they listened to music, played with their ipods/phone, texted, laughed, and just hung out.  Later in the day, we all went ice skating, which is always a favorite.  And of course, we can't celebrate Shayla's birthday and New Years Eve without Jerry's firework display (even if it was -30 degrees).  Those of us who did go outside to watch, rather than stay inside our 65 degree home, were dressed in complete winter gear.  It was a lot of fun and almost everyone made it to midnight.

Happy Birthday Shayla and Welcome 2012!