Hailey Turns 12!

Last Saturday, Hailey turned 12 and she had very specific things she wanted to do. She actually had a sleepover birthday party for another friend on Friday night until Saturday too. However, she is still not a fan of sleepovers and she didn't want to wake up at someone else's house on her birthday either. I didn't think it was that big of a deal but she did. So one morning after I dropped her at school I came back to a one page note on my bathroom counter laying out all the reasons why she did not want to sleep over her friend's house. None of my kids were big sleepover kids and for that I should be grateful but I also think there's something you miss out on by not sleeping over at your friend's houses too - especially at this age. However, Hailey's letter was so well thought out and persuasive that I immediately texted the parent and asked if we could just pick her up at 11pm. 

Presents!

So it all worked out. We did that and Hailey got to wake up in her own bed on her birthday. It was a lazy morning of breakfast (her usual chocolate chip pancakes) and opening presents before heading to the city. Hailey loves the city and if you ever ask her what she wants to do it's usually go to the city (which we usually tell her no as Tom and I lived there for so long and got our fill - we aren't too keen on heading back there every weekend!). But, for her birthday, we relented and took her to the city. She wanted to eat at a sushi place on our old street that is one of Tom's favorites and he took her to one time (so now she always wants to go back). So we went to Butterfly Sushi for an early dinner then of course her next plan was to head to the Blackhawks game for the home opener. Usually, we have free seats to the Blackhawks game but not that night so for the first time in forever we had to purchase some seats (nosebleeds which were still pricey) that weren't on the glass like she's used to! But we still got a good view and it was a great game. The only thing that could have made it better was a win but they lost in the final minutes.

We went home and serenaded Hailey with a birthday dessert (from Sweet Mandy Bs in the city) and Austen did not go out that night so he FaceTimed us so he too could sing to Hailey. 

I think it was a pretty good 12th birthday considering she got the Birkenstocks she wanted, an Aviator Nation sweatshirt, hockey sticks/gloves, sweatshirts and sweatpants as well as $ which she used to buy her coveted Connor Bedard jersey. Wonder if a year will change all these likes. Here's to another 365 days around the sun!

Hockey gloves and stick!

Butterfly Sushi

Her Happy Place

The Very Last Row