August 3, 2015

My Sorta-Grown-Up Birthday Party

Hey all!

My birthday is July 9th and every year I have some sort of celebration with my friends. This year, I turned 11. This year, I told my Mom I wanted to have my two best friends over and have a laid-back, grown-up dinner party instead of a giant themed bash with a bunch of friends. It would be a sorta-grown-up birthday party where I enjoy the company of my besties, and, of course, eat lots of food.


Harper, on the left, and Margot, on the right, are my very best friends. Harper and Margot came in and got settled at the table right away, ready to chow down. 


I asked my Dad if he would make us all my favorite junk foods for the dinner party - wings, burgers, and hot dogs - and he obliged. The meal was delicious!




"This burger is to die for!" Harper said. "Is that bacon IN the patty?! Yum!"


"My hot dogs are wonderful," Margot piped in. "Just the right amount of mustard."


"These wings rock!" I said. "They're burning my face off! It's awesome!"


We had lots of soda, too.


And don't forget butter for our corn on the cob!


After we finished eating, my Dad cleared our plates and we sat, enjoying our sodas.


"Time to open presents!" I declared.



"Open mine first!" Harper said.



I took her present and unwrapped it...




...it was a pair of comic book pajama pants! Cool!

"I knew they were perfect for you when I saw them," Harper said.

"They are perfect! Thank you, Harper!" I replied.


"Mine next!" Margot said.


I took her present and unwrapped it...




...it was a whistle necklace!

"I thought you needed a necklace," Margot said.

"It's beautiful! Thank you, Margot!" I said.


Next, I opened up a gift from my Mom and Dad. It was kinda heavy for the size.


I took the present and unwrapped it...




...it was an iPad! O-M-Gosh! We all squealed.


I touched the screen. It was so pretty. I cannot wait to play on it! 


"Thank you, Mom and Dad!"


Still in a stupor, I picked up the last present. It was from my Grandma and Grandpa A.

I took the present and unwrapped it...




...it was a Kate Spade bag, just like the one I saw on Clarisse's Closet - one of my favorite blogs!


"THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!" I yelled. "It's beautiful!"

"That's not all!" my Mom said. "Look behind you, Charlie!"


As if all my dreams hadn't already come true, I saw the one thing I had wanted forever - a telescope! My dearest ambition is to become an astrophysicist so a telescope is the first thing every astrophysicist needs!


"This is the coolest present EVER!" I declared.

"Yeah, it's super cool..." Harper said.

"Right! It's really...um...neat," added Margot.

"Whatever, you guys just don't appreciate the finer points of astrophysics," I said. "Anyway, I think it's time for cake!"


As I thanked my Mom, she brought out my birthday cake. "You're welcome, sweetie. Happy birthday! I made your favorite vanilla cake, and I tried to make a Dalek from Doctor Who to match your dress, but the mold just didn't do the trick. I'm sorry, pumpkin!" my Mom said.


"That's okay, Mom! It's the most perfect cake and party and day ever!" I exclaimed.

Do you have any birthday traditions?

{On me: Dress by Daffodil Doll Clothes on Etsy, Belt by Our Generation, Shoes by Exclusively 18" on Etsy; On Harper: Shirt by AG, Shorts by Maddie's Girls on Etsy, Shoes and Headband by Maggie and Joan on Etsy; On Margot: Headband and shirt by Our Generation, Shorts by Everyday Dollwear on Etsy, Shoes by AG; Pajama pants by Lively Lime on Etsy}

July 13, 2015

Meet Bianca!

Hello all! I met a new friend through my bestie Harper the other day! She goes to private school with Harper (who I met in my ballet classes). Her name is Bianca Luisa Carvalho. She is from Sao Paulo, Brazil - how cool is that?


Bianca's native language is Portuguese, which is similar to Spanish.


Bianca has piercing aquamarine eyes and tan skin - isn't she beautiful?


She came to the US with her family a few years ago after her father, a successful businessman, got a new job here.


Bianca is very shy and timid at first, but once you get to know her, she is quite spirited and loves to make people laugh! She is very proud of being Brazilian and loves telling us about the beautiful beaches there.


Do you know anyone from Brazil?

{On Bianca: Romper by Clarisse's Closet on Etsy}

July 5, 2015

My Own Pictures from the Zoo!

On Friday, my Aunt Sam took me to enjoy an afternoon at the local zoo. I dug out my camera and decided it was time I took some pics for my blog myself, since normally my Mom takes pictures for it.


My Mom couldn't help herself and took some pictures of me anyway before I left. It's really hot where I live right now, so I dressed cool, remembered to stay hydrated, and put sunscreen on before I went to the zoo.




I had my special zoo bag I got the last time I went, a zoo map, and my camera. Ready to go!


My Aunt Sam and I lucked out and most of the zoo's animals were out doing fun things when we came by!



This giraffe came right up to us! Isn't it sweet?


They were having a special dinosaur display going on at the zoo, so we stopped to look at these animatronic baby dinosaurs. One of the eggs looked like it was hatching! Cute!


These two lions were out sunning when we came by. Only the boy lions were out, because the girl lions are too little to play with them, so they come out separately. I like to think they're related to Simba from "The Lion King."



I snapped some great pics of this monkey carrying around some bark. He looks like he's not sure what to do with it in the second photo!


Our zoo has several elephants, including this one, a 6-year-old girl named Zuri. She's not fully grown yet, so she looks kinda small.


The zookeepers were feeding the rhinos when we came by. The zookeeper said this rhino is 55 years old! Wow!


Our zoo has a large enclosure for their 3 seals and 1 sea lion. When we came by, they were starting a show! The seals in our zoo paint paintings that they then sell in the gift shop to benefit the seal enclosure.


The trainer had the sea lion dance for us! How neat!


The brown bears in our zoo were enjoying a lazy day. Can you see one of them napping under their log fort?

And then this happened...


My zoo has a baby orangutan named Tuah. Tuah was only born in November, and his older sister (and the zookeepers) takes care of him. 


He is pretty much the cutest thing I've ever seen and I wanted to take him home with me!


Tuah's sister came right up to us!


I have decided I now want to be a zookeeper when I grow up, as well as an astrophysicist. It can happen, right?!

Have you been to any zoos? Do you have a favorite?