Peyton Turns 13!

Yikes! Another teenager in the house, as Hailey put it! On December 30, Peyton turned 13 and was all
about demanding that we not be in Michigan for her birthday but instead home (since we weren't spending it on some great vacation).

She told me this three months ago actually so when tickets to a musical (Dear Evan Hansen) she would like went on sale in September, I bought them for a fun activity for the family to do on her birthday. The play was about high school and fitting in and the perils of social media. 

We went to a 2pm show because Peyton wanted to go to Michael Jordan's Steakhouse for dinner. But before then we opened presents - more Lululemon, Nike Air Max tennis shoes, make up, a photo printer for her iPhone along with fun stuff for a teenage girl's room. 

We were busy all day/night and I think that's what she enjoyed - that the day was all about her. Actually, she may have said that she would have enjoyed it a bit more if it was just mom and dad spending the day with her! (And, Austen who liked the play minus the singing might've been happier to stay home. Hailey who didn't want to go at first actually liked the musical but that's probably because it had some swears in it!). 

So in honor of Peyton's 13 years, here are 13 things to know about Peyton right now:

1. She loves to go on vacations and does hours of research on activities and restaurants.

2. She gets injured a lot - like the other day when she tripped in her Ugg slippers coming out of the bathroom, went down in a heap on the floor crying hysterically and I told Tom that she was going to ask to miss her first day back at swim practice because of it (and I was right - but she went anyway). 

3. She loves attention. Show her any bit of attention and she'll be your friend for life.

4. She can be quite shy and unsure of herself. I can't even get her to go into a store to pick up something because "she doesn't know what to say."

5. She's incredibly strong. Make a muscle, I ask her, and she shows me a "Popeye-sized" bicep.

6.  She has a knack for doing the least amount of work when help is needed or pulling a Houdini when we  ask her to help out.

7. She is a self starter - manager of her own homework, tests and all things school. (I'm sure glad I don't have to micromanage her schoolwork.)

8. She's very artistic. She loves to create whether it's drawing her own shoes, playing and building Legos or making a clay fox for her sister, she has some serious art skills (well, at least much better than mine). 

9. She loves animals. 

10. Her current future career is a marine biologist and is very into the ocean and surfing (which she first tried this past spring break when we were in Hawaii). 

11. Her room is no longer the messiest in the house (She's gotten neater and Hailey has taken over that award now.)

12. She can finally sit in the front seat (of the car) now (although she keeps forgetting). 

13. She loves steak, french fries and all things chocolate. 

Happy Birthday P!