Happy 13th, Maile!

13th Birthday Highlights

Breakfast in bed, which was little sister's idea

Custom t-shirt in honor of the special day:  Lucky No. 13 #QUARAN"TEEN"BDAY #TOGETHERAPART

Surprise lawn decorations

One stop on the scavenger hunt

Another stop!

Perfect weather for slip and slide

Socially distanced surprise

Shave ice truck

Dear Maile,

It's only been a few months since your last birthday post, due to our tardiness last time.  Although the person you are within hasn't changed, life certainly looks different after 11 weeks of quarantine due to COVID-19.  Many months ago, we found a note that you wrote to yourself when you were much younger.  In the note, you wrote, "Sometime around my 10th birthday, my parents are going to throw me a surprise party."  When we found this note, we realized we had better move quickly, as your next birthday would already be three years past the approximate date.  

About six months prior to your birthday, we started planning for the surprise party options.  We considered renting out a roller rink, throwing a joint surprise party with friends who had birthdays on or near your date, getting a hotel room with some of your friends to watch the Starlight Parade, surprising you with a friend on a trip to the condo, and so many other possibilities.  As quarantine life really settled in, we realized none of those options were going to work.  You began talking about what your birthday would look like in quarantine.  Luckily for us, you suggested that we surprise you with plans for your 13th birthday.  So, although the fact that you would be surprised wasn't a surprise, you didn't know exactly what would be in store for the day.

We hope you enjoyed your surprise quarantine birthday - from early breakfast in bed (kind of since you woke up early and decided to just have it downstairs) with your favorite croissants, to decorations everywhere, FaceTime with your best birthday twin, Kirsten, lawn signs, a scavenger hunt through town and beyond, your traditional BVille birthday lunch, dance class, slip and slide, FaceTime with family, a video montage thanks to friends and family, your favorite sushi dinner, and the ultimate surprise of seeing friends (socially distanced) in the flesh with the shave ice truck at the house.  And, they came in matching Lucky #13 shirts in honor of you!  To finish the night, you had your weekly friend Zoom call, with your favorite skit time.  We think this quarantine birthday may have been even more special than had your birthday not been in quarantine.  We hope you had a wonderful day and felt celebrated by so many who love you!

This is how we would describe you today as a 13 year old teenager!

You are a person who . . .

. . . is the life of a party.  Over and over again, we have heard from others how you make them laugh and help bring others together socially.  

. . . excels in school. Your teachers tell us how driven you are, how inquisitive you are, and how you are absolutely thriving at school.

. . . even though you love school, you could do without the multiple hours of homework.  Going over an hour or so tends to bring out your frustrated side.  😉

. . . is so incredibly responsible.  We have had to rely on you so much to make sure you are taking care of anything that needs to be done.  You make it so much easier on us as parents!

. . . loves playing Mario and backgammon with Dad.  

. . . picks up quickly on comments that may be biased, especially when it comes to gender inequities.

 . . . is so committed to dance - practicing for hours and hours each week.

. . . still doesn’t care about clothes or outward appearances.

. . . still enjoys reading and writing creative stories.  You have a knack for the imaginative world of writing!

. . . still loves sushi, steak, prime rib, pho, and treats of most kinds. 

. . . enjoys an after dinner treat almost every night, with ice cream topping the list of favorites.

. . . has to repeat the same goodnight phrases before bedtime each night.

. . . is starting to stay up later than your parents (while struggling to fall asleep most nights) and sleep in as long as possible.

. . . loves the memorable moments in life and feels especially sad each time one comes to an end.

. . . has become a big fan of the Survivor series!

. . . takes care of your dog and your sister whenever you see them with a need.  

Happy 13th birthday, Maile!  We are so incredible thankful for you!  We love you!

Love,

Mom and Dad