Fourteen....

Today our niece, Kathrine, turns fourteen! That is so exciting and crazy! I remember when I turned fourteen. I really thought I was pretty sophisticated. Nothing was more present in my thoughts than the fact that I could go to stake dances and slow dance with BOYS!!! My friend (who was equally as dorky as I was) and I practiced how to dance, planned what to wear and primped for the big night. We were so excited and clueless, that we showed up to the dance promptly at 8:30pm, when the dance started. This was rather awkward, since the only other people there were in charge of decorating the place. We did what one could only do in a situation like that, we hid. Very brainy. People eventually came and we eventually joined them, except for when a slow song came on. Then we ran off to the snack bar or the bathroom to hide again. Despite our best efforts of lameness, we both did end up dancing with real live boys that night. My friend's catch was shorter than she was and mine only talked about math. Big success. I never really got any cooler, but at least I don't have to do any of that again!

I have no doubt that Kathrine will make the transition MUCH more easily than I did. She is cute, funny, has a head on her shoulders, and doesn't look like she is eight (the woes of being a legal midget). I sure enjoy any time I get to have with her, so I am sure her friends feel the same way. On top of everything else, she is a great cook. There are few things in this world as tasty as french toast, and this little lass has the best recipe for it!

On another birthday note, I forgot to say happy birthday to Kathrine's dad, our brother-in-law, Chris. As I am new to the family, I am still getting the birthday dates down. We hope you had a great day as well and got to relax or did something fun!