Happy Birthday Eva ♥

Today we honor Eva on her 9th birthday!

Here are some things you may not know about her

She came equipped with her own internal GPS system. From an early age, she's been able to navigate her way around town from the backseat. For instance, let's say we're going to Target, but on the way I decide to go to El Pollo Loco first, which means that I would need to stay on the freeway a few exists longer. The very instant the car doesn't veer to the right to take the Neil Rd exit, she knows it and will say, "I thought we were going to Target?" This will happen without fail, because she's clever that way.

She also knows where she's been, even if it was only once, while she was sleeping in the backseat, in the dark, at a roadside rest stop where we stopped so I could use the restroom. The next time we pass said rest stop, she will inevitably say something like, "isn't this the place we stopped five years ago, to let Mom go to the bathroom, while I was sleeping in the backseat, and it was dark out, and before I fell asleep we were eating Skittles?"

Sometimes we like to quiz her on directions. About two or three years ago, we were sitting in the brand new Taco Bell on South Meadows. It was dark out, and it was our first time there. We asked her to point in the direction of random locations like, Utah, Grandpa's house, Janene's house, the church, Target, Walmart, Lake Tahoe, downtown, etc.. Out of about 25 questions, she only got one wrong.

She has excellent hearing. Like the Bionic Woman, she can tune into sounds normal people can't hear or don't notice. She's especially good at hearing what music is softly playing in stores and restaurants over lots of noise, and telling me one of my favorite songs is on. One of my proudest moments as a mother happened at Swensen's with Trisha and her kids, when, over all the ice-cream noise and chatter, she heard Janis Joplin and declared, "Mom, your favorite Janis Joplin song is on." I've never been more proud ;-)

She's an excellent big sister! She watches out for Sophie at school, picks her up at her class to walk to the bus together, and then sits with her everyday. She helps Sophie with things she has trouble doing in a sweet and loving way. She protects her.

She learned how to ride a bike in less than five minutes.

She likes to talk a lot in school (hmmm, wonder who she got that from), but works really hard on paying attention and only talking when she should - or at least keeping it on the down low ;-)

Things you probably already know about her

She's a social butterfly

She's a loyal friend

She's kind

She's funny

She's fun

She's feisty

She's got a powerful set of lungs - I'm talkin' Powerful!

She's independent

She's moody!

She's clever

She's an excellent student

She's sensitive

She's loved ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥