Celebrating another year of my favorite girl

Last year’s photoglut for Macy’s birthday was so much fun that I’m doing it again. My favorite girl turned 11 yesterday, and after a jam-packed weekend of celebrating, we’re all exhausted but smiling at all the fun we had. 

My girl has a unique blend of steely determination and all-encompassing kindness. She may well be an “old soul” based on the compassion and insight she possesses. She pays attention to the little things, like having flowers waiting for me when I get out of the hospital

and giving me a week off from cooking dinner — the best gift I’ve gotten in a long time!

She’s the type of kid who makes it easy to be a good parent: she does her homework as soon as she gets home from school, brushes her teeth without being asked, keeps her junk-food intake in check, regularly tries new and healthy foods, and keeps an eye on the clock so she can respect her bedtime.

I know…kinda sickening, isn’t it? Don’t be too jealous; I do have a 13-year-old boy at home, too.

As conscientious as she is, she’s equally wacky. For career day at school, her choice wasn’t a veterinarian or a teacher. She wanted to be the lead singer for KISS. I’m sure her teachers were very impressed.

She used the same costume for Halloween, which made it easy on me!

Miss Wacky insisted on wearing a rainbow afro wig when she went to see Madigascar 3 at the movies. Just like the zebra character in the film, she rocked it!

Goofing with her piggie is her favorite pastime.

Although cutting a rug is one of her favorite things to do, too, and she’s an excellent dancer.

She has a keen interest in ok serious obsession with lotto scratch cards. I have no idea where she discovered scratch cards, but she’s asked for — and received — a few for all the recent occasions.

Along with scratch cards, my favorite girl has developed a love of cooking and spends a lot of time in the kitchen. Her latest savory creation: customized pot pies, so that each member of the family could get exactly what they want. 

She’s earned $800 from baking cookies, brownies, and pies in the last few months for a class trip to Washington, D.C., this summer.

There were cookies for all the holidays, including Halloween

and she perfected the M&M cookie. Yum!

She even baked her own birthday cake this year, and it was beyond delicious.

She loves to read and carries a book pretty much everywhere she goes. 

She has her own sense of style and loves to strike a pose. 

This girl makes a splash everywhere she goes.

She has a smile that can crack your heart right in two. 

This time last year, she still looked like a little girl.

All that is changing, however; this year’s birthday dinner found a young lady on the receiving end of the Happy Birthday song. 

That’s ok; she’ll always be my little girl.