Your eighth birthday

 Audrey Kaydence.

Today you are 8 years old. Holy cow kid. You made it to 8. Time goes faster than what I would deem appropriate but all in all you have had quite some LIFE in your years. Let’s recap the last year shall we? 

You switched schools in February, which was a challenging decision, but a good one you were at a much smaller school now with a much smaller network of friends and it is healthier for you. 

Your blonde hair is still blonde and your eyes are still this gray blue green. They change all the time primarily gray and green sometimes blue and green still very light still very curly. You have more freckles now than you ever have before and I am admiring watching your face with glasses as I know that contacts are coming soon to help with your myopia. You will always be my baby. I am excited to watch you grow up.

You got to go to your first concert this year it almost became your entire personality. You have been a Taylor Swift fan since you were about two years old and even though we couldn’t go with you, we arranged to have friends and Bama take you and you had the best time at the Eras tour. as a matter of fact, that’s what we did for your eighth birthday. We ordered Italian food streamed the tour after you saw it live, again at the movie theater two times and then we rented it. You love everything about Taylor, Swift, and her current boyfriend, Travis Kelce, or as you call him - “the guy on the chiefs.” - you even requested that your grandparents bought your American girl doll the Chiefs shirt and I’m sure you will be so happy when you finally get to see that they came through with your request. 

You are still very mature. Your closest friends are Sienna, Westlyn, and Penelope. You have started getting a tiny bit more picky than you have been in the past but you still eat mostly all vegetables without arguing and complaining.  

You are into watching shows on the Disney Channel now almost as much as PBS Kids and even though I don’t allow it on weekdays you like watching the Suite life on deck and Liv and Maddy. The Odd Squad is often in the background. 

You were a warrior all year dealing with one parent medically bedridden and one parent who was doing his best to cook, chauffeur, tutor, Girl Scout volunteer, and lead as best as he could. Your dad and you grew closer during my rough pregnancy and I am so proud of how well you faired. You only sold 500 cookies this year but you were able to go to St. George Airbnb sleepover camp with your troop and you came home to a delightful surprise. Your brother was born the day after you got to St. George and meet was one of the sweetest things I’ve ever seen. You absolutely love your brother, and he totally adores you. he lights up whenever he sees you. He follows you around the room. He looks up to you and I’m so grateful that you are becoming a young leader right before my eyes and his. 

You were still a member at Kidstrong kids gym and this year at school you joined the basketball team and dance club on your own and as long as your grades are great which they always have been, you will continue and I love that for you. It’s so nice seeing you learn new things.. 

You are very interested in a lot of things  - you love to do crafts, you love fashion, you love drawing dresses, you love watching award shows, and judging books you loved watching the Golden bachelor this year. The first year they ever had a senior as a bachelor contestant and you cried with the widows (and again when your contestant didn’t get picked.) Kim Kardashian until you found out what Kanye West and her did to Taylor Swift. 

You are very passionate about responsible gun ownership and war ending - and this year you have learned a lot about managing your emotions and being mindful of your actions and you hold everyone accountable all the time whenever they aren’t I think this will make you a very healthy spouse but I think it currently makes you a very direct, which is not always welcome, but I love to see it. 

As much as I wish, I wasn’t already thinking of your birthday eight years from now when we are considering Drivers permits, I know in my heart won’t be forever, so please go easy on me this year watching you and your brother grow together will be harder for me because you are my first to experience everything and he is now my last And with every joy I find in your new experiences is new territory for me - but we will navigate it together, just as we always have. 

Love you to infinity 

& As dad responds every night “and beyond” 

Audrey’s Birthday interview 2022 

What is your name? Audrey

How old are you? 

8

What makes you happy?

 You and dad making me laugh 

What is your favorite animal? Horse

What is your favorite color?  Pink and Purple 

What is your favorite thing to eat? Steak

What is your favorite thing to do? Paint

What is your favorite TV show/ movie? 

Suite life on Deck / Home Alone 

What are you really good at? 

 Fashion 

What do you want to do when you grow up? 

Be a Fashion Designer 

What is your favorite song?

Blank Space by Taylor Swift 

What do you and your mom do together? 

Bake 

What do you and your dad do together?

 Draw

What is your favorite book? 

Mom has Hyperemesis, but only for a little while 🥺

What’s the best thing about being you?

Well, being me

What is something that makes your family special?

Probably, we tell a lot of jokes - we are so funny 

What do you love doing?

 Art

What do you know enough about that you could teach others?

Reading 

What is the best thing that has happened to you?

I got to see the nutcracker with my friend 

If you had three wishes what would they be?

1. To be able to do fashion for a job
2. To skip school today 
3. Eat Benihana two nights in a row