On Sunday Anna celebrated her 8th birthday.
And we suddenly became one of *those* parents . . . our youngest child is 8 and all of the kids now attend wednesday night activities at the church (Activity Days, Cub Scouts, Scouts), which means we're old. At least according to our 23 year old selves. We spent some time on her birthday watching home videos of Anna as a baby. Sometimes I can't believe how fast the time as gone, but at the same time that life (life with babies) seems SO long ago. Crazy how life moves. It is good.
When she woke up in the morning she came to our room and we wished her a happy birthday. I commented, "Anna, I think you got bigger. You grew overnight!" Her eyes opened wide and she jumped down from the bed, begging to measure herself against the imaginary height mark she has placed on the middle of my upper arm.
On Anna's eighth birthday we went to church, and then after church she had an interview with the bishop for her baptism that's coming up soon.
The rest of the day was spent at home doing a whole lot of
cake decorating - rainbow cake with pink frosting and lots of sprinkles courtesy of Anna
BBQing - she requested hamburgers and hotdogs for dinner
present opening
I love her reaction to this gift. "I don't get it."
We had actually gone shoe shopping 2 days earlier and purchased these shoes together. So, of course, I wrapped them up for her birthday. She doesn't yet understand the concept of birthday leverage. Anything purchased in your birthday week becomes a birthday present!
The cause of this gleeful expression - Pokemon Black 2 for her Nintendo DS. She and her brothers LOVE Pokemon.
There was modeling of new clothes
Lego building and Pokemon playing
And 8 candles to celebrate one great girl.
When I tucked her into bed that night I asked, "So does 8 feel different to you? Do you feel older?" After a pause, "Yes." How do you feel older? She replied, "when I look around my room I keep seeing all these baby and little girl toys." Then I told her that that is okay. She can keep those little girl toys as long as she wants. I kept many of my dolls and animals until I was a teenager (and still have them in storage). She is still a little girl and there is no reason to try and grow up too fast!
Eight. And she is pretty great.
