Ella Turns 9 !!

I can't believe my first born is nine. At almost exactly nine years ago this very moment I became a mother and boy has my life changed since! Ella is one extraordinary kid. She is currently reading the fifth Harry Potter novel(She started number one at Christmas) and she also has decided she is a vegetarian. (Eating meat is cruel to animals, per Ella) Today for her classroom treat she brought in sprinkled Krispy Kreme donuts. On Thursday she took a survey(only Ella would think of something like that) and everyone in her class, including the teachers, picked Krispy Kreme over chocalate chip cookies. Of course, then we had to get her the donuts. This wouldn't have been a big deal except we found out last night that the local Krispy Kreme was temporarily closed. So Daddy had to get up at 5:00 this morning to drive a half an hour away to get her Krispy Kreme Donuts. Hopefully everyone really enjoyed those donuts!
For her birthday dinner tonight our family and grandma and pap took Ella to the North Park Clubhouse which also has video games with tickets to win. Ella won 75 tickets(not a lot) and she traded them in for a bean bag ball and two plastic best friend necklaces for her two best friends. Patrick was so sweet he gave his tickets to his sisters. (I think her realizes that there is nothing but junk to get with the tickets and he didn't want to waste his time). Isabella received "slime" with her tickets and candy of course. After dinner we had cookie cake( Ella doesn't like real cake). We skipped the big birthday party this year. Ella has requested horse back ridding lessons in leau of a party this year so tomorrow we go to visit another horse farm. Then tomorrow evening she is having a friend or two (friend number two never makes it through the night) for a sleepover. Hopefully this will be enough birthday for her and that she enjoyed being the center of atttention for a couple days ( hard to come buy in a family of six, soon to be seven). Below are a few pictures from her "special day".


The Birthday Girl!


Izzy and Patrick being silly!


Our beautiful baby


Izzy showing off her tickets


Patrick playing games


The birthday girl playing games


Ella being silly


Ella opening presents


Ella blows out candles on her "cake"