It's all about turning 12...

This weekend, the middle child decided it was time to turn 12 years of age. I begrudgingly let her! I'm still in denial that I have a 14 year old, let alone a 12 year old.

Thus, the weekend was all about her...

Saturday, she wanted to go bowling, so we went bowling...

She has beautiful form, don't you think? From now on, I think we'll stick to Wii bowling. It's not so painful.
She had gone swimming with her primary class the day before, and played this same game and ended up winning 4 stuffed animals. Ishee was jealous so she tried to win her one, too... apparently the other machine was rigged.
Dinner at Gringos... sorry all Gringo's lovers... the food was better when I was in college! I've had better!

One tradition we've started with the girls is letting them decorate their own birthday cake, (thanks to Heidi) and they always look forward to it. The frosting for this cake took two tries to make, but it was oh so yummy and yet oh so runny since she wasn't patient enough to let it set up a bit more before she used it (the butter was WAY too soft).

(Frosting recipe)

(Cake recipe)

But it still turned out cute... she liked it and that was all that mattered!

We gave her our presents before church on Sunday.... Dance Dance revolution for the Wii, an outfit, a necklace, and clothes for her webkinz animals.

She got to go to young womens for the first time today! *sniff* She has fabulous and fun leaders and I think she is going to love every minute of it. She is so excited for her first YW activity, which is floating the dry bed (a channel of the snake river). I'm even thinking of even letting her go... while I stay home and cry. Where did the last 12 years go?

After church, we went to grandma's house (the in laws) for the party. Her great grandma and grandpa came up for the day as well. She makes a good "lean to" for her four year old cousin, Brit, while they watch "Trickin my Truck", Brit's favorite show. After a huge meal of char-burnt burgers (my FIL is a little obsessed with making sure all meat is thoroughly cooked), we sang Happy Birthday to... who exactly? Brit is a little obsessed with birthday cake and kind of thinks all birthday parties are for her... and the middle child likes to play along... mainly because we know what happens if you don't.
Then Brit, despite having her "own" presents to open, proceeded to open all the presents. She let her keep the necklace she made her, but took back the dum dum sucker.

Great grandma came with Webkinz for all the girls and lego's for the boy. It beats that Spiderman coloring book she gave him for his birthday this spring. His dad told him I would soon blackmail him with this photo, and boy, was he right. Today's a good a day as any... just don't tell him you've seen it. He may never forgive me (especially since I promised him I deleted it).
I told great grandma to be prepared because as soon as she could sneak away to get online and play Webkinz, she would be gone, and sure enough, she was! I haven't seen her since.
At least the boy loves Dance Dance Revolution and I haven't seen my TV since ... except to watch the amazingly fantastical spectacularly totally jump up and down scream and yell celebratory win of the Freestyle relay last night on the Olympics!!! ~GO USA~!