Emma's 12th Birthday

Our beautiful and sweet Emma turned 12 years old today.  We celebrated her birthday over the weekend with our extended family at Grandpa North's house.  The party was Harry Potter themed, due to Emma being on a Harry Potter kick lately.  Emma recently finished reading the entire Harry Potter series with her dad a couple of weeks ago.  The two of them spent the last couple of years reading through all the books out-loud together.  Emma loved hearing her dad's Harry Potter voices, especially Hagrid's and Dumbledore's.  They are reading The Hobbit together now, and Emma is loving it so far.

 We had beef stew and shepherd's pie for dinner at Emma's birthday party on Saturday.  Emma loves those entrees, and it helped that they were both mentioned in the Harry Potter books to go along with the theme.  For dessert we had butter-beer, chocolate frogs, golden snitches, snowy owl cupcakes, jelly beans, and a candy cake that Emma designed and decorated herself.

Emma's 12-Year-Old Interview

Emma woke up bright and early on her birthday, because her feline roommate, Miss Sushi, was meowing in her bedroom quite loudly.  As soon as Emma opened the door, Sushi leaped out of the room at full speed, making her way downstairs to use the litter box as fast as her four little paws could take her.  Emma followed not far behind, rubbing her sleepy eyes.  Brad and I greeted her by singing Happy Birthday as she descended the stairs, and then we bombarded her with hugs.   I decided to take advantage of Emma being up early by interviewing her for her birthday. 

Here is what Emma has to say about herself this year:

Me: What makes "12" such a special age?

I'm going to be in Young Womens, and I will have bigger responsibilities and do things I couldn't do before, like baptisms for the dead.

Me: Who are your best friends?

Makenna Torgesen, Brooklyn Roper, and my cousins Kaylie, Rachel, and Jessica.

Me: What do you like to do when you are with your friends?

Play Minecraft, play outside, or just talk.

Me: What makes you laugh?

A funny episode from Rhett & Link, and crazy Scott and Lizzy.

Me: What is your favorite subject in school?  Why?

Art, because I love drawing cats, and because I don't always get to draw whenever I want.

Me: What are your favorite books?

Warriors, Harry Potter, The Hobbit, Alice and Wonderland, Batman comic books, Foxtrot, and Garfield.

Me: What are your favorite movies?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Gravity Falls, My Little Pony Friendship and Magic, Napoleon Dynamite, Brave, Toy Story 3, and Monsters Inc.

Me: If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?

I would give at least half of it to Makenna and my family, and the rest of it to buy Warrior Books and My Little Pony, and to buy a forest and have lots and lots of cats.

Me: Describe your perfect day.

I would wear my super Nyan Cat shirt and I would go ahead and go downstairs and eat breakfast, which would be Nyan Cat shaped bacon and eggs.  Then I would go to school riding on a cheetah, and it would run me to school.  I wouldn't be wearing a uniform.  Instead of learning, we would get a million dollars for not wearing uniforms.  You could play on the computer, or you could go outside on the super slides.  They would say, "You can have a brand new Microsoft 4000 for not wearing uniforms."

Me: What do you want to do when you grow up?

I want to be an author, because I have a lot of good ideas, like The Golden Sand Island, and The Black Cat series.

Me: What is your favorite family activity?

Going to Aunt Marian's house and having a swimming party.

Me: What is your favorite holiday?  Why?

My favorite holiday is my birthday, because it's the day I was born, and I get to celebrate it, and I know lots of people care about me.

What I Have to Say About Emma

Emma is the sweetest most tenderhearted girl I have ever met.  She cares deeply about others and what others think of her, and she always wants to do her best to make things right.  She is very honest and trustworthy.  Emma and I have always gotten along well together.  We are both easy-going people, and we like to be in each others company.  I have been a part of Emma's life since she was four years old.  During the first three years of my marriage to Brad, I was Emma's main caregiver, and I spent all of my free time with her teaching her how to read and write, and helping her build up her self-confidence.  I feel very attached to her, and very proud her.  I feel very grateful to be a part of her life and for what she has taught me as a mother.  I love you, Emma!