14!

How can it be, you say?

I am quite sure I have no idea.  One day I'm handed a sweet but very cranky ball of baby girl and the very next she's having her 14th birthday.

Abby and her Birthday Booty.
Usually we open the gifts in the evening when Jeremy is home with us.  This year he had to work late into the night, so we opened them before he left.

Have you seen these new girl legos?
Both of my girls love them.

Abby and her new American Girl style baby horse and an interested Amelia.

Abby and her new Schleich dragon and a VERY interested Marshall.

Abby got a tube of lip gloss and some nail polish from her Grandad and Sue.
Marshall who is just like his dad and fears change asked what it was and when we told him, he looked downcast and replied "But I like Abby's nails and lips just the way they are."  :D

Our big gift to Abby was Addy's table and chairs.

Happy 14th Birthday lunch with Daddy at the O Club, where sweet potatoes masquerade on the dessert bar as cake to trick unsuspecting birthday girls.

A REAL babysitter came by to sit with Marshall and Amelia while Abby and I spent a few hours doing big girl things.  Last years manicure was so fun, she wanted to do it again.  I opted for the pedi (flip flops as year round footwear can take it's toll!), so Abby got a quick polish while she waited.  She was not eager to have them touch too much of her feet.

The end result!

I gave her a choice of a second activity, basically any type of shopping.  She
chose Barnes & Noble.  PHEW!  At least somethings aren't changing!  Their
kids club sends coupons for a free dessert from the Starbucks located in the store.
Abby devoured this yummy triple chocolate cupcake.  It totally made up for the
sweet potato incident at the O Club!

For dinner, she wanted tomato soup.  Poor Amelia.  Railroaded by the
"Birthday Dinner of Choice" by both of her siblings this year.

I made chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting to share with our friends at church on the Sabbath before her birthday.  When I asked her what kind of dessert she wanted for her actual birthday, she wished out loud that she could get the pineapple pie that the McDonald's in Thailand carries.  (So much better than apple!)  I actually had a recipe for pineapple pie in a Hawaiian cookbook, so we gave it a try.  She chose a coconut pineapple ice cream to go with it.

Happy, happy birthday to my sweet baby girl!  The years are going much too fast, but you are a joy to your Daddy and I.  We pray that God continues to bless you and keep you a child of his kingdom each and every day of your life.  We are so thankful for the sweet artsy hippy calmness you add to our family.