T.W.E.L.V.E.

Well, here we go. Twelve! Twelves years of loving you fiercely. Carter, you are such an amazing guy. You are SOOOOO funny and kind and you make us so proud. You also own your struggles and faults and commit to do better when you mess up. You are all around such an amazing young man and I'll never be able to thank God enough for sending you to us.

Birthday's creep up so fast every year and today we celebrated Carter! I cannot believe we have a twelve year old!! Carter LOVES basketball and comedies and is always the first one to crack a joke and laugh along with us. He is amazing.

Carter has been SO excited to turn 12. He has been looking forward to this milestone birthday for months and we also were so excited to celebrate him! Carter chose to be spoiled this year instead of having a birthday party. Being a Sunday, this was the perfect day to spoil our guy!

He has been asking us for this big lego set for a couple of years. So, we did it! We got him the gift we knew he would be SOOO happy to receive.

He wanted Basketball theme and so we did just that!

Carter was up at 5am and 6:30am and then again in my room at 7am and 7:05am just to say "This is the minute I was BORN!!!!" To say he was excited for this day is an understatement!!

Carter chose donuts for breakfast! Bentley did a muffin instead.

Right after breakfast, before the sun was even up, we did cards and his gift. I LOVE seeing his reactions while reading the homemade cards and opening his dream gift! Nothing is better then seeing his genuine smile!

Within minutes of his bursting excitment, he had that lego box open and started building his lego set.

We stopped quick for church and the moment we got home he went right back to it. He has been working on it FOR HOURS and honestly so so happy. He moved the main level of his set to the basement where hes now set up watching his favourite show (the office) and building his lego. I really don't think he could be doing anything better on his birthday!

In fact, he has been so busy that he has kept his church clothes on the entire day. This is unheard of but he's too busy to take a break.

Both sets of Grandparents stopped by this afternoon too and spoiled our 12 year old! Grandma and Grandpa Reed came first.

Grandma and Grandpa Gardiner and Great Grandma Mockler came too. It was fun to see everyone and see Carter's happy smile.

For dinner Carter was very specific. Steak, mashed potatoes, cucumbers and watermelon. We surprised him with the "World's Best Boss" cup from his favourite TV show and Brian BBQ'd the best steak! We were all so stuffed!

We sang our boy Happy Birthday and carved into his cake. Even though waited a little bit to do the cake, we still couldn't finish our slices. Everyone is going to bed super full tonight!

Still trying to get over the fact that we have a 12 year old and also so excited (and nervous!) for this next chapter going into teenager parenting.

One thing is for certain though, this boy really really makes us so happy and we are so thankful he is ours. Happy 12th Birthday to our Carter. We love you more than you'll ever know. We hope this year is your best one yet!! Love you Bud, happy birthday.