Great to be 8

Anna has been very excited for her birthday.  She was sad when we moved from Illinois to leave all her friends, and sad when we left Utah to leave her friends, but she has already made a bunch of new friends just on our street - four other girls close to her age live on our street and she plays with them almost every day.  She wanted to invite them to her birthday party but I wasn't quite up to having a party.  We planned to take her out for some fun activities and have a little party at home.  Not to be deterred, she wrote an invitation to all her neighborhood friends inviting them to her birthday party.  One of the neighbors asked me about the invitation which was the first I had heard of it.  I made Anna go around and tell her friends we weren't really having a party and asked her to please not invite people to things without my knowledge.  On her birthday several of the friends ended up giving her gifts.  I was pretty mortified by the whole things since we don't know these neighbors very well.  Anna delivered each girl a cupcake and nice thank you notes are in the works.  So hopefully its all ok now.  Maybe our house will be birthday party ready by next year.  Maybe.

Here is Anna on her big day.  She was very excited to be 8 years old.  This was a special birthday 'cause she turned 8 on 8-08.  And she'll be baptized in a few weeks (date still TBD).

She wanted to take a picture with Emma.

Scott was able to take a day off work and we all went to Chuck E. Cheese in the morning.  Scott and I also were both able to run and I made pancakes and a cake before heading out.  I felt like a winner getting all that done.

Anna and Grant took a picture together at Chuck E. Cheese.

Emma and John were the first to spend all their tokens (actually Matthew was first to blow through but we gave him a few more).  Here are John and Emma enjoying the candy they bought with their tickets.

Air hockey.  Always a favorite.

Emma was tired and hungry and ready to leave.  

We will wash her thoroughly.

We had lunch at one of Anna's favorite places, Panera.

The kids were well behaved at lunch and everyone loved the Macaroni and Cheese there.

We went to Gilroy Gardens after for a little more birthday fun.

Emma on one of the rides with me.

On the carousel.

Anna had a great time and was able to go on one of her favorite rides for which she is barely tall enough.  Usually they let her ride it, but sometimes they determine she is too small. Today they thought she was tall enough.  

Back at home Anna helped decorate her cake while dinner cooked.  Anna wanted a school bus cake.

She wanted to decorate is mostly herself.  She made busses out of twinkles and we had a road and field of flowers.

She was very happy with her cake.

Ready to blow out candles

Treasure hunt to find presents

Aside from deciphering my handwriting she did well reading the clues.

At the end of the treasure hunt was a special present.

A new bike!  She outgrew her old bike a while ago and has been riding Matthew's old bike for some time.  So she was excited to get a new one.  Matthew was jealous 'cause Anna's was a multispeed bike.  So I have a feeling he will be lobbying for a new bike soon.

Anna opening presents.

The next day...Anna with her new bike

And by her old bike.

Yes, it is really that small.

I think Emma's about ready for it.

Matthew having bicycle envy.

Poor Matthew.

And Anna ready to ride off into the blinding sun with her friends.

Happy Birthday Anna!