Jared's 12th Birthday

Here it is Christmas Eve.  All my plans for today were put on hold when Skyler woke up throwing up this morning.  So while everyone else is out playing and Skyler is busy watching Thomas the train movies I can finally catch up a bit on my blog.  Jared turned 12 in October.  I felt like a terrible mom because I had to fly to Chicago on his birthday.  We celebrated the night before with cheesecake and presents.  He actually didn't mind celebrating early since he's one that hates waiting for his presents! I eased my guilty conscience a bit by making him french toast (his favorite) for breakfast and taking Dunkin Donuts to his class before we left for the airport.  At least I was the favorite mom out of his peers that day!

What else would Jared want for his birthday than a new Lego set?  Hobbit is his new favorite since he is really into the Hobbit movies right now.  So even though I had to leave on his birthday he had a fantastic time building his Lego set as soon as he got home from school.  We received numerous texts with different views of the finished project while we were in Chicago.

Here's a look at Jared at 12.

Things he likes: cheesecake, Legos, playing with his little brother (he is so good with him and Skyler loves the attention he gives him!), pasta, football, basketball, baseball, Star Wars, The Hobbit, reading Heroes of Olympus,skiing, xbox, Minecraft, scouts, camping, and hanging out with his friend, Max.

Things he doesn't like: practicing piano, homework (although he has become much more responsible about getting it done!), milk, eating breakfast, and doing his chores.

Turning 12 in our church means that Jared graduated from the primary and moved to the young men's program and received the priesthood.  I was sad to see him move on since I had recently been called to serve in the primary presidency but Jared was so excited and ready to leave.  He was ordained a deacon by his dad and we enjoyed a day with lots of family here to support him.  It has been so fun to watch him with his new responsibilities in the priesthood.  He takes them very seriously and does such a good job passing the sacrament and collecting fast offerings.  This is one of those years that Jared has amazed me by how much he has grown up, not just physically, but in how much more responsible he has become.  He is a joy to have as part of our family and I'm so proud of the young man that he is!

Not a bad picture of the whole group taken from the timer.  On the wagon was the only way to get Skyler smiling!