The Amazing Lacey Turns 13

Lacey is disappointed that I no longer blog very often.  She was not very subtle in her attempts to get me to write.  On her last day of school, she brought me two enormous spiral notebooks. She explained that they were barely used and she wanted me to have them. "Do your thing," she insisted.

Several days ago, Lacey made a point of going through every single photo in my cloud. "Do you remember how cute The Amazing Lacey looked on Halloween?" she asked.  "And, look!  Here are photos of The Amazing Lacey climbing the rock wall!  And, here she is in Central Park!"

The Amazing Lacey

Lacey and Audrey

Sixth grade orchestra concert

The Amazing Lacey scaling a wall

I explained to Lacey that I seldom blog anymore because I don't want to embarrass her and Cassie.  "The Amazing Lacey won't be embarrassed," she assured me.

Of course, I was already working on Lacey's Birthday blog.  I'm always saving little snippets of conversations and actions that are too precious to forget.  But, let me start with the big stuff.  Lacey completed her first year of middle school.  She was on the principal's honor roll.  She was third chair violin in the sixth grade orchestra.  She serves as an acolyte at church.  And, she is becoming an accomplished young chef. 

Principal's Honor Roll

Lacey moves through life with her chin up, handling whatever comes her way with grace.  A couple weeks ago she asked me, "At what age do you start with taxes?  Is that part of puberty too?"

Although she's been in the U.S. for almost seven years, there are many aspects of English that Lacey is still learning.  And, we truly enjoy her journeys with language.  Take, for example, her comment about her upcoming birthday.  "This year I'm turning into a teenager and Cassie's turning into another teenager!"  After being questioned by Cassie, Lacey explained that she meant Cassie would be a teenager again.  Cassie explained that she would "still" be a teenager.  But, Lacey insisted that "another" was best.

When pondering school mascots Lacey said, "If I go to a high school that's human, then all my years of being a child will be human!"  (Explanation:  Her elementary school mascot was a patriot.  Her middle school mascot is Pocahontas.  She was contrasting these to schools that have animals as mascots.)

While observing that one fitness center had opened across the street from another Lacey said, "Look!  They're versing each other!"  (One versus the other)

On a drive through the mountains Lacey said, "My ear bubbles just popped!"

When trying to explain that she'd outgrown a dress she said, "It's choking me around the waist."

While listening to the radio she advised, "This song is so popular because Ed Sheeran just let it go."

During a conversation about penguins, Cassie corrected one of Lacey's facts.  "Well, excuse me," Lacey exclaimed.  "I didn't study birdology!"

Lacey is an organizer.  She organizes cabinets and bedroom closets.  She oversees dinner menus and plans sleepovers.  Lacey has an insatiable need to find a better way to perform all tasks, especially if her solutions involve height.  I've started a collection of photos that I will call, "The Window Series."

Lacey helping clean windows at church.

Lacey was helping clean the kitchen.  She climbed on the counter, opened the window, and climbed onto the deck railing to reach the outside of the windows.  She used a kitchen spatula wrapped in a paper towel to reach across the windows.

Lacey becomes weary of the ballet that permeates our lives.  One evening during dinner Cassie asked, "Has anyone seen the movie The Turning Point?"

"I'll tell you what's a turning point," Lacey snapped.  "The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point!"

Lacey dancing her own version of The Nutcracker!

Lacey makes us laugh.  The girls were flipping through radio stations in the car, trying to find one that everyone liked.  "What's the difference between 'Pulse' and 'Blend?'" Lacey asked. "They both sound like things you should do to coffee!"

Lacey delights in life and we delight in her happiness.

At a candy store in NYC

Always the clown

The Halloween werewolf

Dancing with a garden statue

Enjoying Central Park