Bekah, Age Eight

Last week my oldest girl turned eight. EIGHT! I can't believe Bekah is so big and I can't believe it's been eight years since I had her - a tiny bundle of joy with white-blonde hair and balled-up fists. I had no idea what I was getting into - she has taught me and tried me so much, and she has given me so much joy, too.

 For her birthday we decided to make a trip to the Natural History Museum here in Abq. It's not my favorite museum by far, but they have six new robotic dinosaur exhibits that my kids and I enjoyed looking at.
Here they are by the t-rex skeleton. The cutest grandpa-employee came up to my kids when I was taking pictures and said, "I'll show you a great picture." Then he told me to stay put and put the kids on the other side of the t-rex's mouth. He was right, great picture!

And by the new robotic t-rex, who frankly made Beau a little nervous. Here is Bekah being a t-rex. This makes me think of the movie line, "I've got a big head and little arms!"

I also like their hands-on lab where the kids were able to look at snakes, toads and spiders, look through microscopes, and learn from enthusiastic employees. Honestly the employees were great - there was one woman who was so patient with Beau and answered every question he had, and another that took a snake out of its tank so Bekah and Jacob could take turns holding it.


They have one exhibit with wooden dinosaur eggs and a display about how some dinosaurs would arrange their eggs. Here is my baby dinosaur, squawking at her momma.

And I just loved this picture. Jacob is a great big brother. Do you notice that they are matching? That's because Beau thinks his big brother is so super cool.

We had a great time and left before anyone got cranky. I had the kids stand by the triceratops for a picture. Marianne doesn't really love pictures where her siblings have to hold her. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's the flash, or the pressure of smiling, or being choked...hmmm...I don't know.

That afternoon Bekah had a play date with a friend. When she got home and Marianne woke up from her nap we decided to go bowling. The bowling alleys in Abq. have a kids-bowl-free program that we all love. I had a whopper of a score - 109 in the first game (beat by Beau at 110, he had a ramp and bumpers), and 114 in the second game (beat by Jacob at 115, who also used a ramp and bumpers).
After bowling I decided to stop and get us pizza because it was late enough that I didn't want to make dinner, and Rus was out of town at scout camp and I hate making dinner when he's gone. So we picked up our pizza, went home, and dug in. Bekah and I got into an argument about a dumb cup and I wound up on the front porch eating my pizza because I didn't want to hear her complain. The boys came out and ate with me and she went to her room to cry. When I came back inside I asked Bekah if she had taken the pizza to her room with her. She said no, that she'd only eaten one bite of hers and had left it on the table. I have never been more angry at our Rus's dog Colonel. He ATE her pizza! ALL of the pizza that we had left on the table! I was mad at him and Bekah and myself. So Bekah had a peach for dinner, and a birthday cookie for dessert.
Here she is, mostly recovered from the pizza-trauma:

We stayed up together and watched Kitt Kittredge, an American Girl movie that we had gotten in the mail from my sister (Amy was totally inspired - Bekah had just asked me that morning if we could rent that movie).  
Bekah had asked me months ago if the Kinghorns and Goolds could come over for a birthday dinner of sopaipillas, cake and ice cream. We decided to wait until Sunday when Rus would be home from his trip. It was a great dinner and we really enjoyed the company.

 Bekah wanted a Lalaloopsy cake. This was the best I could do:
Happy birthday, you amazing girl!
And in case any of you are wanting to get out of town for a weekend, Bekah will be baptized on Saturday, August 4th. We'd love to have you!