Happy 13th Birthday, June!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUNE BUG! 

I guess that turning 13 officially makes you a teenager! But it's felt like we've been in the tween/teen years for a bit already, especially since you've already survived your first school year of junior high. It's not for the faint of heart, and you had some really hard times happen. But you still stayed fun and friendly to so many of your friends and peers. Whenever we were at the school with you for any reason, you were always saying "hi!" to everyone! 

You also haven't lost your love for children. So many little kids love having you as their babysitter or just having you around. You get down to their level and talk to them and make them feel loved. You come up with fun games and make them feel so important! I love that about you. 

You continue to be so creative! You never fail to come up with a new game of imaginative story. Your writings of stories, poems, and songs continue to grow and get better all the time. You love to get lost in a graphic novel book as well. You still love to sing and act and had such a fun time being in the competitive Shakespeare team at school. I admit, I was super impressed with that audition you did! And it showed- you were the only 7th grade girl to get in! You've taken horse lessons now for a year and a half and your favorite things to do are to ride bareback or do jumps. And even though you don't take formal dance lessons currently, you still never cease to amaze me with your dancing! 

You're mischievous and sneaky and I sure hope those talents turn into strengths and take you good places in life. 😆  I love nothing more than when you get into your goofy moods and make weird faces and do weird dance moves. You always have everyone laughing! You might also have a hidden talent of ventriloquism and make us laugh with your puppet shows. You still love to try and bake without a recipe and you now also love making fancy drinks. Your current obsession is boba milk tea, ramen, sushi, and anything else Japanese. 

We love you so much. You are brave and forgiving, kind and creative and fun. You keep going when hard things happen. And I'll be honest, my middle school years were hard (because they are for most anyone!) but it actually feels even harder to watch you go through it. I just want to shield you from all the unkind kids and unhelpful teachers and lonely days. But I know you will learn and be resilient, but still. It's so strange to be going through these years again but now through you! 

Please keep fighting the good fight! Don't give up! Don't give in to all the pressures of the world and peers around you. You have always been so unique from everyone else, so never loose that! You have a bright light to share with the world and we feel honored to get to watch that grow and shine! 

We love you and we hope that these next years can be filled with love and growth! We can't wait to see who you continue to grow to be! 

Some funny June quotes:

"I'd rather die on Mars than on Earth"

"I don't wanna pasteurize you!' 

"People at the mall have more problems than you know!" 

Birthday Interview:

How do you feel about your birthday?

I like it because I like all the presents and hanging out with friends and family. 

I'm also not excited because we're coming home from girls camp and I want to come home earlier. 

What are three things you love about yourself

I love my hair, my accents, and my lips 

What's a favorite memory from the past year?

Going to the Asian Market in Boise....? (after discussing things with me) 

Okay wait, YES- the Shakespeare troop at school.

What have you been enjoying the most?

 I've been enjoying the Japanese culture

What's something that has surprised you this past year?

That I can actually make my hair look pretty 

What's your favorite way to spend a weekend?

Screens, shopping and friends 24/7

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be and why?

 Japan. I love the culture, clothing, food, how they act, how they look and the sweet kind voices and how they make the food so creative and they come up with cute little deigns. And, and I love Japan. And there's a Disneyland there.  

What's your dream job?

A cosplayer (what? I like to dress up!) a singer, or an actor, or a voice actor. Or a you-tuber. Or a fashion designer. 

 

And your dream pet?

A bear that stays tiny forever or a phoenix fox.... or a bora bora (okay I think that's actually a place and not an actual animal but it sounded cool)

What's your favorite food?

Sushi, tofu, miso soup, boba

What's something you're good at?

Voice acting, singing, acting, accents, and being ME. 

What's something you'd like to learn more about?

How to bake in Japanese culture and to design their clothing and about cutesy stuff

If you could had chosen your name, what would it be?

A Japanese name, Tanjin, it means "simple"

Favorite subject in school?

I really love, of course, theater and musical theater and that baking class.....  college career awareness

What's been a hard thing this past year?

Middle school. Sitting on the ground at lunch and drama

What talent do you have in common with Mom? 

Photography and singing. Oh and accents! Except you can't do an Indian accent (trails off in an Indian accent) 

What talent do you have in common with Dad?

I love to enforce rules. What? That's a talent!

Greatest fear?

Holes- small or big because you never know what's in them. And balloons because they can kill you by popping, pr from what's inside, or if swallow them or they can suffocate you or if you suck too much helium. And of course the usual murderers. Kidnappers. 

Favorite season?

Spring. It's not hot or cold

Holiday?

Everyone looks forward to Christmas which I love too but I'd say Christmas and Lunar new year. (then I challenge that and we have a whisper conversation about how we've never celebrated lunar new year) 

What's one thing you wish you could change in the world?

I just want world peace .... and for all me and my friends and the poor people to be rich and the rich people to be poor. 

Any last words?

Yes. For my birthday I want a boba kit, new phone screen, hoover board that plays music and doesn't try to kill me, Japanese stuff and hello kitty stuff.