Jesikah's 14th Birthday

 Jesikah opened presents from us on her birthday, August 13.  Then, a week later, she had her birthday party because that was the day the new Hunger Games movie was coming out and she wanted to wait until then!  Below, Jesikah is standing next to her presents.

Present from Alex, with the usual fancy wrapping!  I didn't even have to remind him to get her a present this year.  When she was ready to open her presents, he had a present for her with the rest of them.

Alex has been lucky enough so far that when it is time for someone's birthday, he can pick one of his sets of books to give away.  This is the Lightning Thief series.  Unfortunately, (unknown to Alex) Jesikah already owns this series (which is the reason for her face).  But to save his feelings, she didn't tell him and told me later that she never wants him to know since it was the thought that counted (and she does love those books)!

Together with Alex

Best pic that I could get of the two of them

Reading the card from Grandma and Grandpa Ricks

Card from Tessa--she felt bad that she didn't have a gift for Jesikah, so she included $10 of her money.  I thought it was sweet.

Jesikah was touched, but unfortunately I got this one out of focus

Card from Eric and I (it fit her perfectly).  She even mentioned that she couldn't believe how well the card fit her.  Enclosed was a DQ giftcard.  Jesikah loves ice cream more than anything.

Gift from Jarem.  I had picked a few of Jesikah's favorite treats to put in a gift and told Jarem he could give that to Jesikah.  When he saw that Tessa was giving her money, he wanted to add money to his gift too.  Then, there was a very tender moment when Jesikah opened Tessa's gift and he realized that money was all that Tessa had to give her.  He secretly snuck the money out of his gift before Jesikah opened it because he didn't want it to seem like his gift was better than hers.  He has always been very sensitive and aware of others feelings.  I thought this was a very sweet gesture.  He and Tessa have a very close relationship.

Jesikah is smelling the scatch n' sniff sticker that he put on his card.  I love Jarem's face in this picture.  He is so anxious to her to like it. :)

Jesikah could see his anxiousness and pulled him in to help her open the gift.

Make-up from us.  I told her when she was 14 she could wear eyeliner, so she wanted some for her birthday.

Some jewelry from us

A lovely Pandora-style bracelet

Art supplies (In the gift were paints, paint pallette, easel, and different sizes of canvases).  She has wanted to start painting more.  She is quite talented artistically.

And a random picture of Tessa