Maya turned 12...WHAT???!!

Twelve fantastic years have gone by, and everyday with this child has made me feel so grateful and happy for the career I chose.

My sweet girl is a Young Woman! How did this even happen? I couldn't be more proud of this girl. I don't know how this amazing person came from me!

(This picture was taken on Maya's last Sunday in Primary...she had been counting down the Sundays for months!)

Her birthday breakfast was made by Eden with the help of Aric...

Then she opened her presents...Eden got her some Smash Book accessories.

She got some candy from C...

She also got a Harry Potter game for her DS and a Harry Potter piano book...

Maya's birthday request was eating Olive Garden and going to the beach. There was no way that I was not going to make her birthday wishes come true. So Aric and I kept the plans for the day a secret from her and the other kiddos.

Our first stop was Olive Garden where I forgot to take a picture!!!! I cannot believe that I blew that moment...it happened. Maya and I shared our favorite dish, Beef Tortelinni. Then we were off to Ogunquit, Maine.

We had heard amazing things about this place and it did not disappoint, it rained all day in Boston but it was gorgeous up in Maine.

I knew it wasn't going to be super warm so I didn't bring swim suits for the kids...whoops.

Eden drew a skateboard for C in the sand and this is him riding it... 

Aric and I were excited for the kids to try some Maine lobster. We looked online for the best lobster in town. So this was Maya's first taste...I didn't catch her face after she actually tasted it. She spit it out.

And this is Eden's first taste...she was brave enough to try it after seeing Maya's disgust but she too ended up spitting it out.

Camden wouldn't even try it after he saw his sisters reactions.

Since lobster wasn't a hit we ended up hitting Wendy's for dinner on the way home and she had an oreo frosty for her birthday dessert. (she is holding a birthday card she got at Olive Garden to represent her birthday meals)

Aunt Carolyn and Roscoe couldn't celebrate with us but they still made sure to make Maya feel special...

We celebrated with cake and ice cream on Sunday. She requested vanilla cake from scratch and chocolate buttercream frosting...

Maya has been forced into some very difficult situations these past nine months and she has handled them with such courage and faith that is beyond her years. I am in awe of her. She has become one of my dearest friends. I don't know what I would do without her love and support. I only have six more years to have this amazing person within arms reach! Oh that thought makes my heart so heavy. Watching her blossom before my eyes is something I always thought would happen but I never understood what a privilege it would be. The painful stuff I've had to watch her suffer through has brought me pain that I could hardly bear. But then watching her overcome those trials through her own faith and courage has given me the most joy. Oh Motherhood...why must you be such a roller coaster!

Happy Birthday my sweet Maya Papaya!!! You will always be my little girl...and GK's too :)