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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Kensington ·

Kensington is THIRTEEN!


Today, Kensington Kate is THIRTEEN YEARS OLD!!

Oh my heart.

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

THIRTEEN!!!

That miracle baby we wanted more than anything, the one who made us parents, is officially a teenager!

I know all of you mamas out there feel the same way, but I blinked and she went from infant to teen!  I don’t exactly know how time sped up like that, but I really wish it would slow down.

Kensington is such a big personality in our little family. Even though she’s the most independent and self-sufficient of the bunch (always has been), her presence in our house is always fully known.

She loves to still play with her siblings but also craves alone time too.

She loves dessert.

She rarely has her bed made.

She loves binge watching shows on Netflix and Disney+.

She doesn’t like pink.

She loves Starbucks.

She loves any recipe that begins with ground beef.

She hates laundry.

She is obsessed with Frenchie.

She wants to be a nurse.

She likes one on one time.

She loves salads.

She’s handled Celiac like a champ.

She loves Nantucket.

She sings in the church youth group.

She is obsessed with Mia.

She wants to live in New England.

She doesn’t like wearing earrings.

She loves holidays.

She loves volleyball and cheer.

Should would put Nutella on anything.

She loves Jesus.

She was our answered prayer.

We are already so proud of the young woman our Kensington has become.  She’s smart, she’s sweet, she’s feisty and loyal.  She loves big.

Happy birthday, Kensington Kate!  We love you so much! xx

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Comments

  1. Erika Slaughter says

    Happy Happy Birthday to your THIRTEEN YEAR OLD! You couldn’t have described Kensington any better! I love her sense of humor and quick wit along with her loyalty, boldness to share her faith and so much more. Still can’t believe she’s a teenager! I hope she has a great day today!

  2. Kelly Strylowski says

    Happy 13th, sweet girl! Kensington reminds me so much of my daughter, and it’s been a joy being able to watch her grow into a beautiful young lady! God bless. ?

  3. Laura says

    Oh my word. I remember when she was a little baby! Hold on, Mama. Soon you’ll be ordering her class ring!

  4. Taylor says

    For some reason I had tears in my eyes when I read this! Maybe because I’ve been reading your blog for so long that it feels I’ve also watched her grow up quickly before my eyes! Happy birthday Kensington!

  6. Sonia says

    Happy Happy 13th Birthday Kensington!!! Sending hugs and warm wishes to you on your special day!
    God bless you today and always. ♥

  7. Lisa N says

    She is STUNNING! With so many good and interesting traits. Happy Birthday, Kensington! I have so enjoyed watching her grow and look forward to seeing her dreams come true!

  10. Katie Compton says

    Happy birthday to your sweet girl! My baby girl turned 14 this summer. She is my one and only. My heart aches when I think of her leaving for college. We just have so much fun together! But I’m so proud of the young lady she’s becoming that it takes away the ache. I hope Kensington has a fantastic day!

  12. Christine R. says

    Happy 13th to your beautiful girl! You and Andrew are raising a wonderful young lady who is sure to do good things in this world (a nurse!).

  13. Kristine G says

    Ahhhh. I love that you say she’s your answered prayer. I feel the same way about my rainbow daughter who also loves Starbucks and Nutella! Ha

  16. Kimberly Nations says

    She’s beautiful.. I think she is going to be tall like her Dad! Happy birthday sweet girl! I hope your day is the best.

  18. Alison says

    I’m not going to lie, once they become a teenager, the pace really picks up. So, hang on! You and Andrew should be so proud. Kensington sounds like a beautiful soul and she is most definitely a beauty on the outside, too. Happy 13th, to your lady!

  19. Katie says

    Awww, Happy Birthday to her. I actually was just listening to an old Jamie Ivey Podcast this morning where she was interviewing you and Kensington was just 7 at the time, so time certainly does fly. My oldest actually turns 10 on Sunday and her twin sisters turn 8 on Friday, so yay for September birthdays!! It’s funny, because although that is an older interview with you, everything you were talking about travel totally resonated with me and how our family likes to approach trips with our kiddos and try to give them experiences. Thank you for giving us a little glimpse into your life!

  21. Nichole says

    Happy Birthday, Kensington! I can’t believe she’s 13. I can totally picture her living her best life in Boston as a nurse at Mass General or Brigham & Women’s and taking in all the Red Sox games she can. I hope she has the best day today.

  23. Monica Stoleson says

    Happy Birthday Sweet Girl! Love this post! All the wonderful things you listed about her. Makes my mama heart tear up. ?♥️?

  24. Mary Ellen Cook says

    Love seeing “the teenager” through the years! She’s such a cutie!!
    Happy 13th Birthday Kensington!!!

  33. Bri says

    Happy birthday to Kensington!!! A teenager! So exciting! Through reading your blog and following your life here, I love learning that our girls are both 13, one month apart, and you and I will both be turning 40 this year, one month apart. 🙂

  34. Connie says

    Happy 13th Birthday to Kensington!!! She is so pretty! My daughter wants to be a nurse too. (Neonatal nurse) Have a fabulous day celebrating! ?

  35. Amy Heinl says

    Happiest of birthdays to Kensington. What a beautiful young lady she is. I pray she enjoys her special day and is surrounded by all the things she holds dear. Thirteenth birthday is such a magical birthday. I got a charm bracelet as my special gift for my 13th birthday and got charms added for alot of special events that followed. 46 years later it is one of my most treasured things to wear. Enjoy your special day

  38. GiGi says

    Happy birthday to your beautiful Kensington who seems to be just as beautiful on the inside as out! So hard to believe she is 13! I love your post about her and have loved watching her grow up on your blog. I just can’t believe she doesn’t like pink! LOL (She is probably gets more than her share with her little sisters.) I wish for her many happy things and many blessings.
    +

  41. Leanne Gilchrist says

    SHAY!!!! How did this happen!? She’s gorgeous. She looks like a joy. And how did those long years pass so quickly!? Buckle up, because they’ll go even faster from here.

    I’ve loved seeing a tiny slice of your life and I’ve loved following along with a bit of your days. I think I’ve been reading for at least 8 years.

    As I read this post, I prayed over Kensington. I prayed that this would be her best year yet. I prayed that the Lord would take her further up, further in, closer and closer to Him, that He would guide her path. I prayed protection over her, protection from this world that wants our kids so very much, that K would be surrounded, hidden, cosseted in His strong and capable arms!

    Thanks for letting me be sappy~~our Lucie will be 13 in January! God bless you, dear Shay!

  42. SS says

    WELCOME NEW TEEN!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
    We hope you have a GREAT day and don’t give your parents too much teenage grief!!! LOL!!!

  43. Joanne says

    Aw, Happy birthday Kensington! I know how you feel about blinking… my oldest is turning 18 soon and I just can not even wrap my mind around that.

  44. Tracy says

    She’s beautiful! It’s been fun watching her grow up here on your blog. 🙂
    Happy Birthday, Kensington!

    • Bev says

      You nailed it with your comment! She is a beautiful girl and that’s it, Jesus shines through her! Happy Birthday to Kensington! ?

  48. Carly says

    Happy Birthday Kensington! 13 is such a special birthday, did she get a special gift (if you’re willing to share) thank her for sharing part of her world with us!

  50. Liz Thorson says

    Kensington is an incredibly wonderful person! What a joy to have her be the oldest sib in your dear family! Happy 13th Birthday, Kensington Kate Shull! Here’s to a fabulous year of love, fun, growth and adventure!