Miles's Eighth Birthday Questionnaire

It's great to be eight!

1. What is your favorite color? Blue and green

2. What is your favorite toy? Nerf guns

3. What is your favorite fruit? Kiwi

4. What is your favorite TV show? Amazing World of Gumball

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Cheeseburger from McDonalds

6. What is your favorite thing to wear? My Pokemon shirt

7. What is your favorite game? Hide and Go Seek

8. What is your favorite snack? CheezIts

9. What is your favorite animal? Chameleon

Drawing by Miles, age 7.9

10. What is your favorite song? On Top of the World (Imagine Dragons)

11. What is your favorite book? Diary of a Wimpy Kids

12. Who is your best friend? Talon, AJ, and Austin

13. What is your favorite sport? Soccer

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Ride my bike

15. What is your favorite drink? Dr. Pepper

16. What is your favorite holiday? My Birthday

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? My soft blanket

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Waffles

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? McDonalds

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A computer designer or scientist 

21. What is your favorite candy? Warheads, but don't eat a lot of them because they make your mouth hurt

Visit to Placerville, Porter

The last part of our trip was in Placerville - with a detour to Fair Oaks to see Megan and the cousins. It is always good to see our kids playing together and having so much fun! We drove four hours from Monterey on our last morning and only had about 4-5 hours to hang out. It was worth it :)

Part of our visit wasn't so fun - we said goodbye to Porter, who has cancer. He was breathing quick shallow breaths and his eyes were very tired. He was a good dog - a good hunting companion.

San Juan Bautista Mission

Small detour to the San Juan Bautista mission on our way to my parent's campsite - we stumbled upon the most beautiful magenta field. I wish I knew what kind of plant it was, growing out behind the mission. People were taking engagement photos there and I can see why - it was stunning!

The mission itself was closed but we walked the grounds for a bit and explored the gardens.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Not quite the visit I had in my head, with plenty of time to see the exhibits and a handful of visitors... oh no, it was very crowded and busy. But we still got to see some pretty amazing animals and breathe in that ocean air.

Monterey Bay

I just needed to be around the ocean before heading back - so we stayed a bit after the aquarium and walked around Monterey looking for otters and seals, finding shells on the beach and drawing in the sand. I love Monterey and its cloudy, cold beaches.

Monterey Scottish Festival

We took a road trip out to Monterey to meet up with my parents at the Monterey Scottish Festival where my dad was competing in a bagpipe competition. The chance to see everyone this summer, plus enjoy 65 degree highs was too tempting to pass up. Me and the kids set off on the journey, without Matt. I had never driven so far with the kids alone before and I was quite nervous. Pit stops were what I was most scared about - I wish I could convince Miles to go into the women's restroom with us but he has refused to do that for years. So, we split up and I am convinced he is kidnapped until I see him again. Other than stopping in new places and feeling nervous, the drive went great! Amazing what four DVD players will do to help with entertaining kids.

We got to Paso Robles the first night, stayed at my friend Janel's house and then drove up the last 2 hours to Monterey in the morning.

Becky and her kids had been in Placerville for a few days and decided to come too! The kids had fun at the festival - their favorite thing was hammering nails til they were flat and looked like swords. Miles seriously hit that nail for 45 minutes and was super sweaty when he was done. 

Dad's band got first place on both days of the competition - as usual :) 

Kid Quotes

I yelled down the hallway, "Penelope you better not be on the Kindle!" With a sassy voice she said, "Come see for yourself!" I went into her room and she was laying on her stomach, coloring. Good girl.

Penelope has said several times that she wishes she were a boy... her reason? So she won't have to wipe when she goes pee. 

Miles: Tomorrow is Mom's bday

Penelope: Yep, and tomorrow is my baby doll's birthday too. She is turning 3. 

Miles: How do you know? 

Penelope: Because she is 2... (duh!)