Houston...We have a teenager....

On November 4, 1999, after 11 hours of labor our beautiful daughter came into the world. Ashlynne was only 6 lbs and 19 1/2 inches when she was born, but she was full of spunk from day one! It's hard to believe that little peanut is now a teenager! 13 years old, in 7th grade and at 5'1 she is nearly staring me straight in the eyes. Just a couple more inches and she will pass me up! (I'm only 5'3)

Ashlynne is my biggest helper and I'm grateful we are so close. She is an honor roll student, is in advanced math-Algebra 1 and she loves to read. She also loves cheerleading, theater and singing. This year she auditioned for State honor choir and out of nearly 700 kids who tried out, she made it! She is so easy to brag about because she gives 110% to everything she does. It's so fun to see the young woman she is growing into.

We don't do birthday parties on odd number years instead we go out for a special family dinner that the kids get to choose. I allowed her to bring one friend and she chose one of her closest friends KD, who is like one of our kids anyway. Ash wanted to go mall shopping and out to a steak and sushi dinner so that's what we did. For me it was as much a birthday celebration as it was a celebration that we've made it through 13 years of parenting and we officially have a teenager! Yay?!?! Haha.

We have a teenager....