Mikan Turns 12

Mikan, you are officially the age that I can legally leave Finley with you alone! I'm excited to let you test your babysitting skills while I go running in the mornings.



You've had another great year. You ran cross country for the first time, running a 1.9 mile course on a regular basis. You finished every race! We are so proud of your hard work and commitment to self-improvement. You even won the Golden Shoe Award at the end of the year for sportsmanship and effort. You love running so much that you have planned out several cross country courses at our neighborhood park, on Grandma and Grandpa's property, and around our subdivision.






Your grades have been good during your first year of middle school, and you've made some new friends. Your favorite classes this year are Piano Lab and Science. You earned a Gold ribbon at your first Piano competition playing Beethoven's 5th Symphony. You are a great planner and have been managing your schedule well.



This year on your birthday your Piano class went on a field trip to the Morris Performing Arts Center to see the Broadway show The Lion King! Anica and I were very jealous! You wanted brownies instead of cake and some of your presents were rechargeable walkie talkies, Big Boggle game, Who Was books, a bluetooth speaker, and Anica made you a lego iPhone! Nina also got you a used iPod Nano (6th Generation).


You have enjoyed having extra time with Finley in the mornings now that your school doesn't start until 9 a.m. You play with him and read to him, and he enjoys having his big brother around.

You and Anica and Drexler still play "weekend school" together, make movies (although there is usually a lot of fighting about the storyline), watch TedEd Riddle videos, and play outside together.

You love Apple products and would love to work for Apple. You can name all the different iPhone models and their distinguishing features, even though it will be a long time before you ever own one. You made different signs about the evolution of the iPhone that you hung up around your house to decorate for your birthday. We are also celebrating your birthday later this month with Henry and the cake will be half Paw Patrol and half Apple logo. You also enjoy writing your own stories and making maps on your Chromebook.

I'm amazed at how much you learn from all of the reading you do, and what you are able to teach me. My hope is that you'll continue to work hard and understand the earthly and spiritual rewards of good effort and helping others, especially when it's difficult. We love you so much.