Birthday Day!

Yup, today is Anna's 10th birthday!  No denying it, no matter how hard I try to make them stay little they keep getting bigger!  After school (and homework) today we gave Anna the gifts from us.  It was a warm (86!!)!  

 The boys gave her gifts from their things too.  Super sweet!

 Her "big" gift from us was all the gear she would need to compete in a walk trot event later this year.  She has come such a long way in her horseback riding lessons! 

 She chose a ham with home made macaroni and cheese casserole, of course followed up by more chocolate cake with strawberry frosting! 

And now for the silly questions I have been asking all the kids on their birthday.  The current year answers are first, then 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013 answers.  

Favorite Color:  Pink (pink, pink, pink, pink, pink)
Favorite Book:  Harry Potter spell book she got today (Harry Potter - all of them, Rainbow Magic, Rainbow Magic, Rainbow Fairy, The Cat in the Hat)
Favorite Gift:  Hermione wand - from Harry Potter (pen pal kit, doll scooter, roller skates, wallet, pop charm bracelets)
What do you want to be when you grow up:  Horse trainer (horse trainer, horse hider, horse rider, librarian, librarian)
Friends:  Lina her cousin and Lupe from school (Lupe from school, Lupe from school, Lina her cousin, Sydney from Cal Poly, Sydney and Brooklyn from school)
Favorite thing to do:  Read (read, read, read, read books, play on the structure at school)
Favorite thing to do at school:  Science (science, science, write, play on the structure, write in straight lines)
Favorite food:  Macaroni and Cheese (macaroni and cheese, Macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, macaroni, yogurt)
Favorite place to go:  (I forgot to ask!!!) (she wasn't sure where this year, school, beach, library, the secret forest - a place they trek to at school)
How old will you be when you grow up:  20 because she won't be a teenager anymore (25, 20, 53, 34 - Same age as Mom, 16)
How old will you be when you get married:  22 like mom (she didn't have an answer and wasn't sure if she would, 30, 20, 20, 17 - and she said she would marry Mason)
How old will you be when you have a baby:  she isn't sure that she will (30 if she gets married, 35, 25, 40, she said she didn't know if she would have a baby)
She is 4' 6.5" and Mason is about 1" away.  She somehow keeps growing enough to stay taller than him.  

Hard to believe our baby girl is now 10!  Life has taken us on many adventures over the years, but how those adventure have shaped us, I wouldn't have it any other way!

Keep on being you Anna!  We love you to the moon and back!

Movie in the House!

To celebrate Anna's birthday with family we decided showing a movie would be a fun way to celebrate, and a special treat!  After a pizza dinner, the movie Mrs. Doubtfire was started.  Anna had a great time watching the movie that we were showing via a projector so it was giant!  Popcorn and candy too of course!  

 A yummy chocolate cake with strawberry frosting for all that wanted some!

 Make a wish!  (And yes, she got all 10 candles out in one blow!)

 After the movie was over an others had left, Anna opened her gifts from family.  She enjoyed all of them! 

Welcome to the family Cotton and Sushi!

On January 13th we welcomed two kittens to the family, Cotton and Sushi.  Can you guess which is which?  The kids are excited to have a cat in the house again after Copper passed on November 17th and Merlin left us a while ago, and now we two!  

They are about six months old and are adjusting well to their new home! 

 And even with Rufus around!

 And each other!

 Couldn't help but take this photo!  The curled up paws! 

 And the first few days they really seemed to enjoy Olivier's bed and Mr. Teddy Bear. 

Check out this magic trick!

I took Anna and Mason to a magic show at the library this morning (Olivier was at jiu jitsu).  Anna was very excited that she was called to help!  Check it out. 

Happy start to 2018!

This morning we started our day by picking up some donuts and bringing them back to the house so we could watch the Rose Parade.  This year we had a bingo card that we were trying to get black out on.  It had things such as an animated float, the grand marshal, a dog, a black horse, a white horse, a float with fire, a float with water, one of the football team floats, Cal Poly's float winning an award, etc.  We managed to get them all except one...the broadcast we watched never talked about the big turn.  They showed photos of it but never talked about how the turn is tricky (or even the painted line in the road).  Maybe next year!  

After lunch (and some rest!), we hiked our hill.  The clouds make the sky look amazing!  Such a nice afternoon hike!  And the kids are getting fast, less than 25 minutes up and 25 down!