My "AMAZING" Eleven Year Old

On June 17th, our little bitty one month early weighing in just over four pound preemie turned 11. I'm not sure where the time has gone because it feels like only yesterday we were just bringing her home from the NICU afraid we were going to break her and at her recent well child check, she clocked in at the 75% in height for her age!!

For the big birthday, she had her first sleepover at our house and although momma had some trepidation going in, it was fantastic and everyone had so much fun!! My mom came down and we surprised the girls with an "Amazing Race" adventure all around the neighborhood. (Thanks to our wonderful friends who allowed us the use of their homes/doors/driveways/backyards!!)

They had no idea what they were in for when they opened the first clue . . .

Using the riddle enclosed, they had to give directions to their "taxi" until they arrived in "JAPAN" . . . while there, they had to make "sushi"and even had a surprise visit from a local ninja . . .

Upon completion of their first task, they received their next clue and once again had to solve the riddle and direct their "taxi" until they arrived in "FRANCE" . . . while there, they had to ring the Eiffel Tower . . .

After France, the girls had to complete the next few legs on foot. Using crazy directions, they had to find their way to "Ireland" where they had to look for Leprechaun gold . . . .

When they'd filled their pots of gold, they had to use walkie talkies and get directions from "Phil" . . . directions may have included blowing kisses to recycle bins, weaving through fire hydrants, playing ring-a-round-the-rosy on a street sign, and random patty cake on the side of the road . . . (at one point they asked, "Are you just trying to make us look silly?" . . . why yes, yes we are!!) . . . they finally arrived in "GERMANY" where they had to play a traditional game with dice, scarves, hats, gloves, knives, forks and a chocolate bar wrapped many times . . .

Upon completion (and consumption) of their task, they were off with the next clue until they found "CHINA" and raced with marshmallows and chopsticks . . .

Following "China," the girls were shuttled back to the start where they had to put their minds to the test and put all the countries and tasks in the order in which they traveled . . .

They spent the rest of their time together playing outside, eating a taco bar, playing games, eating a sundae bar, playing the "tween" version of "truth or dare" (one over cautious momma looked up questions and dares ahead of time and wrote out slips of paper to make it a 'surprise' for the birthday girl . . . and reassurance for the birthday momma on the types of questions and tasks), started "Despicable Me" and were all out like lights at 12:30. They didn't wake up the next morning until they heard me making breakfast at 8am!!! Slumber party success!! It was a wonderful celebration of a wonderful growing little girl. I'm so thankful for great friends in her life that are also sweet and innocent and well behaved. And I am so thankful to my mom (who made years and years of incredibly fun amazing slumber parties for me) for her help . . . and for her hours of card game playing while we watched the kiddos. I'm not guaranteeing one way or the other right now but Hannah may not have to wait another 11 years for the next slumber party in her life . . .