Brayden turns 12

Brayden turned 12 this year!

This is a birthday I have been anticipating for quite a while. I feel like age 12 is huge because it signifies so much and carries so much responsibility. He is on the road to being a teenager, he started in the young men's program, he received the priesthood, and he will start middle school this coming year. I'm sure this coming year he will start getting acne, BO and a deeper voice...oh the joys of puberty!  For so long I have dreaded this day, because I hate watching my babies grow up. But truly, it has been so fun watching him grow into such a fabulous human being. I love watching him take on more responsibility. I love seeing him learn and grow from his decisions and mistakes. He truly has amazed me with his growth and maturity. But at the end of the day he still loves hugs and cuddles. He is so sensitive and compassionate to those around him. I get nothing but compliments and praise  from his teachers and leaders. He is the kind of kid that you always enjoy being around. He can read me like nobody else. He knows when I'm stressed, happy, worried, sad, excited, you name it. If I'm having a bad day, he will do anything to fix it and make sure I'm ok.  I love this boy more than anything and so proud to be his mommy.

 

Mike was out of town for Brayden's birthday so we celebrated the weekend before by going out to dinner. The day of his birthday we opened a few presents, got some dinner and went to soccer practice.

 

He got a perplexus,

some money,

and some t-shirts. 

A few days before his birthday we took him to pick out some new church clothes. Since he was going to be passing the sacrament and receiving the priesthood, we thought he needed some "nicer" clothes. He was SO not diggin the suit coat, but settled on some slacks, white shirt and tie. Dad made him try on these men's shoes (it was all that was around) so he could check the length. He looked a little doofy with his duck bill hat and very large shoes.  

This is the day he got to pass the sacrament for the first time. He looked so nice and so grown up.  

It made me smile when Kade came out of his room dressed in white shirt and tie also. Just like his big brother. If you know Kade at all, he hates getting dressed for church and looking nice. We're usually lucky to get him in some khaki pants and polo shirt. But since this week it's been different. He loves wearing his tie and being like Bray. Brayden truly is such a great example to this little boy and he is so lucky to have him as a big brother.