Neta turns 11
One week in, we celebrate Neta's birthday. This is her last year in Primary and her last year without her own phone. It will be her first year of middle school and her first year of girls' camp. Life just gets more exciting from here on out.
Eric and the younger kids were working, so they met us at McDonalds (Xela came with us, which was awesome!) where we went for dinner and presents. I can't remember if that is something Neta suggested or I suggested. Doesn't really matter; that is where we ate for her birthday dinner.
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| Birthday Girl too into her Happy Meal toy to smile for the camera |
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| Hungry Hippos Game miniature (Coolest Happy Meal Toy I've ever seen) |
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| Could it be....Legos?? |
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| From Aurora - it's a purse |
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| Her's to share with siblings |
We got home in time to try out the slip-n-slide in the back yard.
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| Neta taking the first slide |
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| Trying to find the "bump" in the road |
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| Working out a game |
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| Sibling Crash |
Friday night of that week, Neta had three friends over to use the slip-n-slide and two were able to spend the night. Neta was excited because these friends included Halyn from Little Flower and her good friend from church, who is now in the other ward and a 20 min drive away instead of around the corner, Natalie Robinson.
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| Ice Cream Cake - some of the "cones" fell over |
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| I have no idea what Neta is looking at |
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| Loving Legos |
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| Sliding with Friends (I felt bad for Alice who had red stripes on her legs from sliding) |
After slipping and cake, Alice Rygg went home and we went inside where we watched "The Greatest Showman" and then they went to sleep. In the morning they played and then Halyn headed home around ten before Neta, Natalie, Aurora and I headed to Fishers building to take Ro to a camp work day and Natalie to her mother who was going to be there.
Aurora's Birthday Drive
Two weeks later, it's Aurora's turn. She is going into her senior year of high school and for Xela's senior year she wanted a laptop. Ro said she wanted one as well, and even though Eric thought we should do something different, it's what she wanted so that's what we got (again with the help) of grandparents.
Because her birthday isn't during the school year, I asked Xela to help me put together a scavenger hunt of sorts with different clues to take her to different places throughout Indy that have been part of her life. Together we came up with 17 clues that did a loop, ending back at our house with the laptop under our bed. It was a good opportunity for her to get some drive time in. Some of the clue were easy; couple of them caused her and Eric to pause and figure it out.
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| Finding a clue at the park that Eric (& his family) built when Neta was a baby |
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| "It could be the library?" |
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| At Irvington Elementary School playground |
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| The sledding hill at Ellenberger Park |
This is at Herron High School
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| Grandparents' backyard |
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| "Really, Mom?" Last clue found in the bike shed |
FOUND IT!!!
She seemed to enjoy the drive and was obviously happy with her computer, which she has named LoKi (after the Marvel character, after my recommendation -"low key" - ha!ha!)
I was going to hide the clues early that morning, but then when I couldn't sleep Saturday night, very early Sunday morning, I went and hid things then. For some reason I knocked on Patience's door (I saw the light on), maybe returning her iron, and asked if she wanted to come help. She set aside her homework and we went for an hour drive on the near east side hiding clues and talking. It was good for me to have someone to express some frustrations too, who knows Eric well enough to understand, even though she is not married, and she vented some frustrations regarding my daughter who is rooming with her. Good drive, good day!
Other June Snapshots
Aside from birthdays, there were a couple other photographic worthy adventures in June. On June 20th, Graigry, Aurora and Eric (for the first two days) were at Trek, so after work, we went for a bike ride on the canal and then, as is tradition when Dad gone, we had ice cream sundaes/banana splits for dinner.
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| At the Zoo side of the Canal |
Photo recreation time!
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| June 13, 2014 |
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| June 20, 2018 (I think she stepped up on someone's back; she isn't that much taller than her freshman year) |
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| Dinner! (they always fill their bowls; they always can't finish) |
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| Ice cream cones at Monument Circle |
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