And the oldest turns 12!

Well this birthday may go down in history as the most memorable. Before I get to what made it that way, let's just take a look at the last year and how much this girl has grown right before our eyes.

I can still see her little baby face in that photo below taken early 2017. It makes me so giddy to remember her "birth"-day and to think it was 12 years ago! 

Fifth grade graduation day with some of her besties (whose parents I all adore!), shoving themselves into the wall in the auditorium. 

Her laugh. When she is really having a good time (everyday at the annual cabin trip), her laugh is infectious. I smile just looking at this picture because she was having so much fun preparing herself to jump into the middle of the lake off the pontoon. 

Birthday #12 was a big deal around here. She lit her own birthday candles, on a cake I pre-ordered as part of Sidney's elementary school fundraiser (hey, it was for a good cause!). The cake Regan picked up for me at the elementary school and carried home herself (because she's super responsible like that). So yes, I let her light her own birthday candles :) We had to hurry along the birthday song because we had to eat said cake in between school and softball and dance. But we celebrated together, and that's what is most important.  

                                               And the cake was pretty darn yummy too.

And the part about being a birthday we might never forget?... It was the day that Regan stood up to an adult bully in school; she is being described as the catalyst for finally getting something done about him. I wish I wouldn't even have to associate her birthday to that man who tried calling himself an educator. But luckily my phone has been going non-stop from parents of friends who are proud of Regan for self-advocating and never giving up. And her amazing friends plastered her locker in birthday wishes to help cheer up her otherwise rough day. Sadly there has been a group struggle all year with a single teacher, who seemingly has had it out for Regan and many other classmates. He's now out of the school on what I hope will be a permanent leave. One parent messaged me "you have a great young lady there". We sure do :) 

Happy birthday Regan! We are so proud to be your parents!!