13 on the First Day of School

Alaina's 13th birthday was also her first day of school (Grade 8). The last time this happened was in Grade 2! 

(See https://literarylamb.blogspot.com/2016/09/seven-on-first-day-of-school.html)

We came up with lots of ways to celebrate, but nothing seemed quite right. Then, finally, when we went to Bard on the Beach on August 27, Alaina said she'd like to go see Midsummer Night's Dream again for her birthday. Since there were no performances September 5 (Labor Day) or 6 (the first day of school), we would need to get tickets for Saturday, Sept. 3. And since we'd just seen Midsummer Night's Dream, I wondered if Alaina would like to see the other play instead, Romeo and Juliet. She agreed, so we got tickets for her, Janae and me to go. 

 

I had to admit that it wasn't quite as fun as Midsummer Night's Dream, but it was our first time seeing a play in the smaller theater and during the evening, and we enjoyed watching all the famous scenes from R&J.

This left us free on Labor Day, so we asked Alaina what she wanted to do ... and she suggested we ride our bikes to get ice cream at a local dairy farm.

It was such a beautiful day, and the weather was perfect for a bike ride through the flats.

Alaina got a root beer float with birthday cake ice cream.

After all that, it was the big day: Alaina was officially a teenager, and off to start her last year of middle school.

I made her a Stranger Things themed cake (that's her favorite show),

and after school, Alaina came up with the idea of going to all the pet stores in town (something she always loves to do, although we usually only visit one at a time).

We started with PetSmart, then went to Mr. Pets, and ended with Alaina's favorite: Pet Lovers, seeing all the hamsters, bunnies, fish and reptiles. 

Then it was time to pick up Grandma, who gave Alaina an enormous hibiscus flower that would only last one day (she's also wearing some earrings her best friend at school made for her).

We had White Spot legendary burgers for dinner, and then it was time for candles and cake.

Eric asked, "Alaina, now that you're a teenager, will you still hang out with me?" Of course she said, "Yes" :)

We all love our Laina and were so happy to celebrate this milestone with her. 

And I guess I have three teenagers now!