All About Louisa

As if marrying one off and another one leaving the nest wasn't enough, Louisa decided to up and turn 16! Why? I ask. Why? Why are my kids so determined to grow up? And speaking of growing, Louisa is 5'9" now. Some kids call her Gigantica. Of course, those kids would be her older sisters.

To celebrate her Sweet 16th she and her friend, whose 16th b-day was a few days before hers, had a birthday bash together. Yes, those are matching shirts. That's what happens when you leave your moms in

charge. 

We held the party at her friends' house because they have grass. Grass is a luxury in these here parts. We also held it at their house because Louisa's friend said her house was cleaner than ours... 

 After a barbecue the kids played games till it got dark, and then they played night games. You know what I love about throwing parties? When they're over! 

But I'm getting ahead of myself. The week prior to their party was Girls' Camp! The Captain and the Boy Scouts set up their camp site as a service project. Here you can see some of their handiwork:

The name of our ward is Star Heights, hence the star. Louisa was a YCL this year (Youth Camp Leader). Because it was a Stake camp she bonded with a bunch of girls in the stake and made some new friends. We have a small ward, but the girls are great!

Back to the birthday... We have a tradition of a Birthday Breakfast. When asked what she wanted for her special day she said, 

BACON!

ORANGE JULIUS

and MONKEY BREAD!

Wise choice!!! And with it being her 16th birthday we also have a tradition of buying our girls' their gemstone ring. She was pretty smug that she knew what it was, so she was a little surprised when we gave her a necklace.

And surprised and pleased to get the ring that went with it.

Louisa will be attending EFY in Utah in a couple of weeks and then we'll rush back to New Mexico so she can begin Drivers Ed. As much as I don't want her to grow up, it sure will be nice to have another driver here at the house!