Trying our archery!

This afternoon the kids used the gift certificates they got for a local archery studio.  They really enjoyed learning more about archery and we really enjoyed watching them.  I have a feeling we will be going back because it was enjoyed by all!

Sweetheart Dance!

Tonight Anna and Matt went to the annual sweetheart dance!  It has been a favorite event for Anna since the first year! And look, this year she has just passed his shoulder!  

She kept Matt dancing a lot and she got blisters from all the dancing!  But no complaints!  :-)

Glasses!

Guess who wears glasses now? Okay, I won't make you guess!

Happy 12th Birthday Anna!

Today Anna turned 12!  What?!!  She had a normal day at school (we were happy to hear they sang to her though!) and a horse riding lesson (unfortunately the horse was super suborn).  We gave her the birthday gifts from us before dinner.    

Including tall boots for horse riding competitions!  Makes her tiny feet look giant!

Anna requested chocolate cookies which we made into a bar (the same cookies we had on Sunday but in a brownie type).  12 candles are impressive!  

Happy birthday to our sweet Anna!

Here are the silly questions we ask each year:

• Favorite Color:  Pink (pink, pink, pink, pink, pink, pink, pink)
• Favorite Book:  Harry Potter or Keeper of the Lost Cities or Unwanteds (Unwanteds or Going Wild books by Lisa McMann, Harry Potter spell book, Harry Potter - all of them, Rainbow Magic, Rainbow Magic, Rainbow Fairy, The Cat in the Hat)
• Favorite Gift: tall boots and Harry Potter movies (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 vet (Horse trainer or vet, horse trainer, horse trainer, horse hider, horse rider, librarian, librarian)
• Friends:  Lina her cousin and Lupe from school (Lina and Lupe, Lina and Lupe, Lupe from school, Lupe from school, Lina her cousin, Sydney from Cal Poly, Sydney and Brooklyn from school)
• Favorite thing to do:  Read and ride (read, read, read, read, read, read books, play on the structure at school)
• Favorite thing to do at school:  read (science, science, science, science, write, play on the structure, write in straight lines)
• Favorite food:  Macaroni and Cheese (Macaroni and Cheese and ham casserole, macaroni and cheese, macaroni and cheese, Macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, macaroni, yogurt)
• Favorite place to go:  home (anywhere with horses, 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:  21 (21, 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:  23 (24, 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:  29 (29, 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 5' 0.3" tall!  Past 5'!!!

Weekend Birthday Celebrations!

This weekend we gathered to celebrate Anna's 12th birthday!  The weather was beautiful on Saturday which made our plans for frozen yogurt perfect!  

And after frozen yogurt, we went to see the movie Dolittle!  We all really enjoyed it!

And today we gathered with family at the park.  It was nice but much cooler!  The kids enjoyed spending time together and Anna enjoyed seeing everyone.  

Anna got her own cookie!  And yes, she ate it all!  

Mock Acro Meet

Today Anna and I went to check out Audrey's mock acro meet.  Each year she is doing more complex routines and it is amazing to see!  Here is the first routine:

Yes, that is Audrey at the top!  

And for the second routine I was in the front row sitting next to Heather.  At one point she had a visible nervous mom reaction.  It is crazy to see and I completely understand how Heather feels! 

After the event, Lina came over to spend the night and she got a kick out of a new game we have, "Not Parent Approved".  There were lots of giggles! 

Out for a ride!

As part of their Christmas gift we brought Anna's cousins Natalie and Rhys out to where she rides and she showed them about what to do to get a horse ready to ride and then she led them around the arena.  Anna loved it and I think Natalie and Rhys loved it too!  And I don't think Minx minded the extra love either!  

Loved seeing Anna share her love with her cousins!