Bailey turns 12!

Unbelievable. What happened?! I turn my head for a minute and she is grown up and beautiful. This is the shot I took of the girls the week we arrived in Germany. Unbelievable I say.
This year I admit, I didn't have my usual birthday act together. Mark had just come off deployment and we were all trying to fit back into our family comfort zone. All of the sudden, Bailey's birthday is around the corner. It is a milestone birthday, she is 12! We decided to take her ice skating, there is a first time for everything! We sent out the last minute call to friends and we got a great group together for the evening:
You better sit down for this: I strapped on skates and went out there too! This is how I started (anxiety, that is what you are seeing):
This is how I progressed (face a little more relaxed, but still on edge):
And all because I was holding onto McKenna for dear life most of the time, and that freaky little penguin. I did make it around a couple of times solo but before long I could feel my luck running out. I retired the skates and went back to documenting the experience through photos.

Here is Mark, just because I like looking at him and love that he is home. And for the record, he didn't need no freaky penguin!
Here is my pro's and con's list about Bailey turning 12:

Pro's: getting to see her grow into her beautiful skin, accomplish great things and get a sneak peak of what she will be as an adult. She is in the Young Women's program at our church! We get to have great conversations (when she talks back that is). She can sit in the front seat of the car. She can babysit! She still calls me "mommy" and gives me hugs, kisses my cheek and tells me she loves me. She has a great sense of humor. She is a leader. She can give ME fashion advice (this barely made it as a pro, I debated, maybe it is a con because that means that I am getting older, like 22 years old)
Con's: She is growing up, not my little girl anymore (but she will be in my head til the day I die), she is a teenager almost, this is looking a bit scary but we will all survive (mainly because Mark is here to buffer all the female hormones running a muck in this house). She is really good at rolling her eyes, a little too good. She can really stomp her feet too. She doesn't want me to walk her to the bus stop. She can sit in the front seat. She loves Twilight and is team Jacob.
Happy Birthday my dear girl, you are bright sunshine in our lives! Keep shining like a star!