The Boring Birthday
Its the boring birthday because when she turned 13, she became a teenager. When she turns 15 and 16, she gets to start driving and get her license. I guess 17 will be another boring birthday. Fourteen is just another year older!
Mattie isn't a morning person. We've discussed this with her on those early mornings that we are driving her somewhere for a swim meet or to babysit...she would most definitely choose late night over early morning any day of the week...she is her father's daughter for sure!
Coffee is important when you're 14. Or should I clarify...cream with coffee in it!
The request was for a red velvet bundt cake...she made this request 364 days ago!
Mattie: In this 14th year, you've swam for GNST, played volleyball and basketball on your jr. high team, learned you were fast in track and helped set a St Teresa record for the 400 relay. You've sang in the choir, babysat countless hours for several families including your own and started playing soccer. You traveled to California, learned how to back cars out of the driveway, mastered a few recipes and created a few messes in the kitchen. You've beat your dad in daily steps according to your fitbit, grown a half inch to reach 5'4". You have a love of reading and have devoured so many books that I've lost track...millions of pages I'm betting. Your personality is still boisterous and that is what makes you YOU. And...a flair for drama...since an early age a flair for drama. You share a room with Amelia and Willa and somewhere in your 14th year, you learned to keep it pretty clean which means that when your sisters don't you get cranky because you don't remember not being so tidy before! :) Your sense of fashion is simple...you were once smitten with glittery, sparkly and neon pink and purple and now I've rubbed off on you enough that earthy colors and athletic cuts appeal to you a little more. My early fear of having a girl has been relieved I'm glad to say. I'm enjoying you very much and look forward to lots of fun times together...not to include makeovers, but possibly pedicures and hiking. I'm sure there are lots of milestones I forgot, so I reserve the right to edit this post at any time!
It was a ridiculously busy day...bookended by celebrating a beautiful young woman. No one ever complains about having too many siblings on birthdays...maybe just that the cake doesn't get served fast enough.
We love you Mathilda G! You are our favorite Mathilda in the entire world and we are so glad you were born!! Happy 14th birthday!
None-the-less, it's a birthday, and even if it is a "boring" one, we celebrate HER! Tim is the photographer in this photo, Esther is still sleeping and Jakob doesn't live here anymore. :(
