My Little Young Woman

Karissa turned 12 last Sunday, as I mentioned in my last post. We had a great celebration with Jason's family and I think she enjoyed the drive to Lincoln, listening to Harry Potter. Today, her Young Women's leaders came over to officially welcome her to the Young Women program. Since all the girls who turn 12 this year are going into Beehives as well (which are only 2 more girls in addition), it's nice for her to have had a little more time to prepare. I think the other two families are a little shocked still to have their first-born girls going into YW already. Karissa has a nice clean sweep into the program and the new schedule. It's good they're moving up with her, not only because they are her friends, but because there will now be 4 Beehives instead of 2. Last year at this time, Karissa went to the New Beginnings event where they officially welcomed her into the program, even though she wouldn't actually join til the last day of the year, basically.

One yer ago!

Her birthday party was on Friday. She decided as she made her invitations, that she wanted to have a Disney theme, though it wasn't a strict theme, just an excuse to play Disney music, make a Mickey Mouse cake, wear Minnie Mouse ears, and watch a Disney movie. The girls played Headbands, made clay creations, and ate dinner (which included chili, hot dogs, baked potatoes, chips, pretzels, fruits, and veggies). I have decided I really like feeding these growing friends of my girls. As with at Victoria's party, they raved over my homemade chili and even the potatoes and hot dogs, which required no effort on my part. After dinner we did the cake and presents so one friend could go home early. The rest watched The Lion King. It was a fun, hang-out party.

We made the cake together.

She came up with the Mickey ear idea.

Games in the basement.

Clay creations took a long time for these creative girls!

Some bop-it while waiting for others to finish eating.

Clay masterpieces. 

Karissa may be small in size, but she has a maturity that shows her age, though she's got a great sense of humor (interesting, sometimes) and loves to be goofy. She loves to help in the kitchen, which makes me really happy. She makes a smoothie every day after school, loves to make breakfast food, and bake desserts. She's a girl after my own heart with that desire to make sweet things to eat!

She attends East Middle School and is in the TAG program there. When she and Victoria meet up at Discovery (Victoria's school) after Karissa's bus arrives there, she becomes Victoria's best friend to show off to all her friends. That wouldn't happen if they went to the same school. She enjoys playing the viola in the orchestra, singing alto in choir, and playing the piano. We're looking into a tumbling class, now that cheer season and the holidays are over. The thing she loves the most, however, is drawing. She had become an excellent artist! She draws all the time. Lucky for her, she had art as her first term elective. (Lucky too because Victoria's good friend's mom was the teacher!)

Some recent artwork of hers.

One of her favorites.

Another favorite.

What she made in class at school.

Happy Birthday Karissa!!