The night before: THE EVE! We had to give her BLIZZARD (the cute BIG snowman) to warn her of exciting things to com.
I got that last pic before bed: Goodbye 12! (sad face/happy anticipation)
NOW: Today my girl stepped into teenagehood, and oh my goodness… what a day.
From the moment she woke up, Tatum was glowing : and somehow still my same sweet, beautiful girl.
Before the party, Oreo, the cutest little black-and-white puppy stuffy! She was so happy but said NO PICS! Oreo was by her side the rest of the day.
Then some PINK SUGAR so she’d smell sweet.
Before the party, of course I needed PICS!!
Oreo and DAD!
proud parents…we couldn’t decide on the best…so alas.
Party at Mavrix! Let the Fun Begin
‘
At 10:30 AM we headed to Mavrix (a bowling alley/arcade) for her birthday party.
Her crew for the day: Jos, Hayden, Liam, and Vivian… her people. (Hayden wasn’t there yet)
They bowled, laughed, cheered each other on, and of course:
Tatum won the bowling game!
After bowling came hours of arcade fun, tokens, tickets, glowing lights, and a whole lot of running around together just being kids. Then the CAKE arrived! She had no problem blowing out all 13 candles with one mighty blow.
Everyone sang, she beamed, the candles all lit up her face…
It was one of those moments I’ll remember forever .. the joy of watching her step right into this new stage of life surrounded by friends who absolutely adore her.
The bowling alley gave her the coolest pin which they all signed. HOW COOL!
When we got home, she opened her presents from us:
- New hair + body things
- More Littlest Pet Shop treasures (the nostalgia!) (We gave her an advent calendar which lasted ….TODAY only HA!
- A vanilla sugar scrub
- Pens, cute accessories, and a Barnes & Noble gift card
- Soft cozy pajamas
- And of course, more time cuddling Oreo
And then? She did exactly what a newly minted 13-year-old should do:
She sat on the couch, comfy clothes on, and played with her LPS toys like it was the happiest place on earth.
Chik Fil A for dinner since..well, she can!
This birthday was everything I hoped for her:
Simple.
Sweet.
Surrounded by friends.
Filled with laughter, bowling, arcade chaos, sugar, surprises, and so many little joys.
Tatum HAY what a treasure you are.
Thirteen looks beautiful on you.
Every year I think my heart can’t possibly hold more love for this girl, and every year it stretches a little further. I see the little girl who used to SING AT THE TOP HER lungs with the plastic mic and line up stuffies on her bed… and I see this radiant almost-teen standing in bowling shoes with a sweet grin, cheering on her friends and still clutching a stuffed dog.
I’m so proud of who she is becoming; kind, funny, creative, loyal, tender-hearted, a little wild, and wonderfully herself.
If this is what 13 looks like, I can’t wait to see 14, 15, and all the years ahead.
Tatum, if you ever read this someday:
We love you more and more every day. You are one of God’s sweetest gifts to us, and it is the greatest joy of my life to be your mom.