A Teenager?!

I have a teenager; I'm not sure how that can be possible considering I was just a teenager myself a couple years ago...

Mariah has changed so much in the past year and she was really excited to do her birthday interview. 

1. What do you like most about yourself? 

I'm kind and I'm fun to be around. 

2. What do you think your future job will be? 

Orthodontics and I want to write a book. And I'll be a mother of course. 

3. What do you love to eat? 

Homemade gouda mac and cheese and homemade pizza. 

Mariah loves food, unless she doesn't and then she acts like death is coming if we, heaven forbid, have spaghetti or zucchini...

4. How do you like to spend your time? 

Reading, playing with siblings and singing. 

5. What are you good at? 

I think I'm good at playing the piano and singing. I think I'm good at making friends too. 

6. Who are your best friends and why do you like each other? 

Definitely my immediate family but also my extended family. Anni and Miri are the closest cousins to me and we are really close.  

Miri wasn't feeling well when this picture was taken, but I'm so grateful Mariah has her cousins that live close by. 

7. Who is someone you look up to? 

My mom and my dad and my grandparents. In different ways I look up to my younger siblings. Some of the things they do are really inspiring. 

8. What makes you sad? 

Someone hurting or being unkind to someone else. 

9. What is your favorite outfit to wear? 

Either my baggy jeans with my green shirt or my black tennis skirt with any of my shirts. 

I love this picture: her big ol' pink bow, skirt, and rainboots. Fashion...Also, ticks. 

10. What makes you really annoyed? 

Younger siblings telling me what to do and not coming up with any ideas for what I'm writing or not being able to play a piano piece right. 

11. What makes you feel proud? 

Accomplishing something, like a piece of art or a song. And performing for other people. 

12. What makes you happy? 

Being with family

13. Which of your nicknames do you like the most? 

I don't really have a nickname, I go by Mariah. 

14. What's the best thing thats happened to you lately? 

Performing in my local community talent show and playing a piece that I arranged all by myself while singing as well. 

I didn't get a picture of Mariah on the day of her performance, but here she is trying on her Elton John glasses. It is one of my favorite things watching her perform, she has a confidence that is so amazing. 

15. What do you do when you feel sad? 

Read a book, spend time with a sibling or with my dog. 

This girl loves her dog. We do not love the high voice she does for the pup, but Josie seems to tolerate it. 

16. What's your favorite thing to do with mom? 

Sometimes we end up reading the same book together and we end up talking about the book we read. I like when she drives me to choir and we get to talk about things. 

17. What's your favorite thing to do with dad? 

Drive in the car with him to activities and listen to an audiobook together. I also like when he tries to tease me and I actually stand up for myself and we banter. 

18. What's your favorite thing to do with Chet? 

I like to play card games and board games and jump on the tramp with him. He's actually big enough that I can get bounced with him. 

19. What's your favorite thing to do with Austin? 

Read to him. Sometimes we play a game where we both sit in hammocks and swing really fast and it makes us laugh really hard. We also play a hand clap game and it's fun to see how fast we can get.  

20. What's your favorite thing to do with Eliza? 

I like to play with toys with her and sometimes I paint her nails for her and thats fun. 

21. What's your favorite thing to do with Vivi? 

She likes to show me things that she has done or accomplished and we talk about it together. 

I love watching the way these girls interact. Mariah is so patient and often comes up with fun things to do with her sisters. 

22. What's your favorite thing to do with Asa? 

I like to make him laugh. I give him piggy backs and shoulder rides. It's fun to figure out what he is trying to say and have conversations with him. 

23. What kind of person do you want to be when you grow up? 

Someone people want to be around. Someone who can relate to everyone and is always kind to everyone. 

This girl is gentle, kind, hilarious, a hard worker, and just a joy to be around. We are so blessed to have her as the oldest.

And in honor of her becoming a teenager, here are a couple selfies. I felt it was fitting. We love our Mariah so very much!