Happy Birthday Hadley!

Once October starts, our family goes into celebration mode.  We have 5 birthdays from now until February - plus all the holidays in between.  It's a lot of fun - except for when it's not and super busy.  But that's what we get for having 6 kids, right?  Lots of birthdays.

Hadley celebrated her 11th birthday a few weeks ago - 11!  She is truly becoming an amazing young woman - and I love watching it!  She became obsessed with rock climbing last year and joined a competitive team.  I love when my kids find "their thing"...something that makes them feel alive, something they love and work hard at being good at.  Rock climbing is that for her.  She's been going to climb twice a week for a year now and let me tell ya - sister is buff.  You wouldn't think that she is, but underneath that tiny ball of little is a whole lotta muscle.  I'm confident she could beat me in an arm wrestling match at any given moment.  She also loves to climb every wall in this house.

But the best part of it all?  She's humble about it.  She doesn't brag (she lets me do that for her) about how good she is, or how hard she works at it.  So, today - I'm bragging about her.  Cause I'm her mom and I can do that.

Hadley bean, I am so proud of you!  So proud of how you have adapted to a new school - so proud of how you care for others - so proud of how you are a strong, independent young lady - so proud of your determination and steadfast spirit.  You are the best 11 year old we know!  Love you bean!