Yesterday we celebrated Isla turning eight years old. It was such a low-key and fun family day, and Isla told me as she was falling asleep that it was her favorite birthday ever. We threw a party for her before school let out in May (will share photos soon!), so she was very content having a quiet day at my parent’s house in Durango. She chose to go zip-lining with me and Sasha, and we had a blast with our little dare devil girl. She tested Sasha’s fears just a few days earlier at the carnival, and again as she jumped backwards off the super high zip-line towers.
For her birthday, Isla received jewelry, slime, crystals, a sketch pad and pens, a stuffed animal dog, a ton of great books (she loves graphic novels right now!), Polly Pockets, and a pink ATM machine bank to keep her money safe (from little sisters, of course). She requested spaghetti and meatballs for dinner and snickerdoodle cookies for dessert (in lieu of cake, which she doesn’t love). Isla got to choose the movie for the night – Parent Trap – which makes me cry every time I watch it! Such a great classic.
In Isla’s 8th year of life, she spent a summer in Colorado, 7 months in a rental house, and moved into a new house – as well as starting at a new school and making all new friends. She began gymnastics and tumbling classes for the first time in her life, which she absolutely adores. She will begin cheerleading in the fall with two of her best friends! Isla has become much more independent, but also still loves spending time with us (especially if it’s 1:1). Isla loves art – she is always coloring, sketching and creating.
I wrote in her birthday card that she is the best “mini-mama,” and she kept bringing up how much she loved that phrase. It is absolutely the truth – she takes care of all her sisters, especially Poppy, so well. She has such a loving, tender heart and cares deeply about other people’s feelings. We are so proud of the sweet big girl she is becoming!
As always, I asked her to answer her “favorites,” and even I was surprised by these (like the color!).
- What is your favorite color? Neon green
- What is your favorite dessert? Tiff’s Treats cookies
- What is your favorite TV show? Bluey
- Who are your top 5 best friends? Caroline, Maddy, Davey, Ana and Lillian (she was dying to add others!)
- Who was your 2nd grade teacher? Mrs. Rutley-Kreis
- What is your favorite thing to do outside? Swim, cart-wheels, handstands and jump rope
- What is your favorite movie? Bad Guys
- What do you want to be when you grow up? Artist
- How many kids do you want? Two
- Where is your favorite place to visit? Florida, Disney World and Disneyland
- What is your favorite animal? Cheetah and snow tiger
- What is your favorite outfit? New pink tank top dress from Zara
- What is your favorite game to play? Ratuki
- What is your favorite activity? Tumbling
- What is your favorite thing about school? “My incredibly nice teacher”
- What is your favorite musician? Imagine Dragons
- What are your favorite books to read? Wings of Fire graphic novels, Junie B. Jones, Babysitter’s Club
- Sweet or salty? Sweet
- What is your favorite dinner? Spaghetti and meatballs
- If you had three wishes, what would they be? 1) “To stay 8 years old forever,” 2) “For my mother and father to stay their age FOREVER,” and 3) “To ‘control water'” (a superpower)
