Twelve

Today is Elizabeth's twelfth birthday and what a year she's had.  Her first year in middle school, and she learned to shoulder the responsibility of multiple teachers, a heavy homework load and many extra curricular activities.  She tried two new sports - cross country and basketball - and learned a lot in both.  She made new friends and strengthened bonds with some of her old friends.  She got serious about school and made High Honors (straight A's) all three trimesters of school.  Elizabeth stepped far outside of her comfort zone and participated in both Regional Honors Band and All State Concert Band - trying out for both and working very hard to practice the difficult music.  She also went away for the first time - attending a two week academic summer program at Choate Rosemary Hall and loving every second of it.  She made a ton of friends, many of whom told me when I met them, that she was such a good person.  Elizabeth is loyal and values loyalty in return.  She is stubborn beyond belief and can be incredibly difficult.  But mostly, she is a kind, generous and thoughtful person and we are so glad that she is our daughter.