old

Kara was whining and complaining about her upcoming birthday.  She was excited to celebrate a birthday and to get presents, she just didn't want to turn 18. 

 

 She kept saying her "fun" life would be over.  

She kept saying she didn't want to become an adult.  

She kept saying, "what's there to look forward to after 18?" 

She kept saying, "I am going to be SOOO old!"

So, it was actually quite simple for me to decide on a theme for her big day.

My daughter, at the tender age of 18, was officially

 OVER THE HILL!

She started out her celebration of this dark and dreary day taking a big ole Calculus AP test.  How fun is that? After she recovered from all those numbers swimming around in her head we made our way to Tepanyaki, where we usually end up on her birthday.

Tonight I think she actually caught the shrimp.
Not bad for an old lady.

She managed to unwrap several presents despite her gnarled arthritic 18 year old hands.

She gummed down some cake and ice cream with her 2 besties.

And she even hobbled over to be measured for the very last time on the measuring stick.

(Her notch hasn't changed in the last 4 years.)

This girl, my baby, now joins the ranks of us old women.  

She is 18.  She is an adult.  She is old.

But, what she doesn't realize yet, is that her life is just beginning.  That the best is yet to come.  That she has so so much ahead of her.  She doesn't realize that becoming an adult is exciting and full of adventure and more fun than even she is used to.  

Nope, it's actually not that bad to be over the hill, speaking from experience, especially when you are as outgoing and happy and beautiful as this 18 year old of mine is.

Happy Birthday Kara, you old bag, you!
 

I love you to pieces!