Two Minot kids are having twelfth birthdays they will never forget.
Magdalen Anderson, a sixth-grader at Erik Ramstad Middle School, and Keegan Summers, a sixth-grader at Jim Hill Middle School, will both turn 12 on Wednesday.
"We call it Maggiemas," said Magdalen's mom, Cathy Anderson, who turned her daughter's birthday into a 12-day celebration based on the classic Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas."
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Andrea Johnson/MDN
Jim Hill Middle School sixth-grader Keegan Summers, the son of Dana and Sarah Summers of Minot, is turning 12 on Wednesday – 12/12/12.
To represent the partridge in a pear tree day of the song, Magdalen's mom gave her pear-flavored jelly beans. Turtle doves were represented by Turtles chocolate and Dove chocolate candy.
"The French hens was a good one," said Cathy Anderson, who said the family had a dinner of fried chicken and French bread on the third night. The chicken represented the hen and the bread stood for French.
Calling birds were represented by Peeps marshmallow candy; geese a layin' by sour egg-shaped candy; swans a swimin' by bubble bath so Magdalen could swim like a swan; Maids a Milkin' by Brach's milk maid candies; ladies dancing by a Nintendo Wii game that let Magdalen and her siblings dance. To represent lords a leapin', Cathy Anderson was looking for some gingerbread men. For Magdalen's actual birthday, the family will dress up and go out to dinner and dessert will be ice cream drum sticks. Magdalen got five gold bracelets to represent five golden rings.
"This has been a first for us to get creative," said Cathy Anderson, who said Magdalen is the youngest in the family and was born five weeks prematurely. Cathy Anderson said the unique date of 12-12-12 made her want to do something special for Magdalen's birthday.
"This one has taken some time and a little bit of planning," said Cathy Anderson, but she thinks the other kids in the family are enjoying waiting to see what Magdalen gets for each of the special days leading up to her birthday as much as Magdalen is.
"It's a lot of fun," said Magdalen, who said she will never forget turning 12.
Keegan's family has also made his birthday a special one.
"I gave him 12 presents," said Keegan's grandmother, Sue Summers, and his family held a big party earlier this week to celebrate.
Sue Summers said it is her grandson's "golden" birthday so the family wanted to make it extra special.