Twelve!

I can hardly believe it!  My sweet Mirielle Ilana turned 12 last Sunday!   She is turning into a beautiful, sweet and smart young woman.  It seems just yesterday she was a little toddler learning, growing and about to undergo heart surgery:

Or a young girl, excited for Christmas:

And now she is almost finished with elementary school, beginning young women's and entering such an exciting and busy time of life:

The night before her birthday, I took her out for ice cream at Menchies:

 On her actual birthday, Michelle and I were gone all morning because Michelle was competing in the Utah National History Day competition.  She and 3 friends had created a website about the internment camps.  I signed up to be a judge for the group performances at the competition.  A couple of the groups from Michelle's class will go on to compete at the national level this summer.  Michelle was disappointed that her group didn't go on, but I am pleased with how hard she worked and all that she learned.

That evening, we went to dinner at Pizza Rev (Ella's choice) and went to a movie (Boss Baby).  Then we had cake at home.  It was a fun opportunity to be together as a family and to celebrate our sweet Ella!

Alfredo bought Ella this cute outfit.  Other than that, her gift is to go on our trip together this summer!

 Twelve reasons Ella is excited to be TWELVE:
*Young women's program
*She can sit in the front seat of the car.
*She'll get a phone when she starts 7th grade.
*Girls camp.
*Activities for young women's program
*Going on a trip with Mom to Church History sites
*Being 1 year older
*Going to the temple
*Finishing elementary school
*She can babysit now.
*She got money for her birthday from several family members/friends.
*Personal progress

Twelve foods/treats Ella likes:
*pizza
*ice cream
*Einstein brothers bagels
*chips
*strawberries
*empanadas
*pancakes
*rice
*hamburgers
*toscana soup
*sugar cookies
*freeze dried yogurt bites

Twelve Songs She Likes:
*Most Girls by Hailee Steinfeld
*Simple Things by Brooklyn and Bailey
*Something Like This by Coldplay
*Halo by Beyonce
*Blank Space by Taylor Swift
*Good for You by Selena Gomez
*Water Under the Bridge by Adele
*Run and Hide by Sabrina Carpenter
*Scars to Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara
*Eyes Wide Open by Sabrina Carpenter
*Stand By You by Rachel Platten
*I Was Made For Loving You by Tori Kelly

We love you, sweet Ella!