Anna had a special birthday this year. She wanted to be surrounded by her favorite people--her extended family--and she was. We were really amazed and grateful that so much family was willing to drive to Ogden to celebrate her birthday with us. Because of everyone's availability and Travis being on call, we had two parties. She requested chocolate-frosted cupcakes and purple balloons (thank you for choosing something so easy!). She got several pair of earrings from Elisa and Matt and Jed, because after six months with her ears pierced, she is ready to wear non-stud earrings. Grandma and Grandpa Dastrup gave her a beautiful silver necklace with a violin charm on it and a new CTR ring. Angie delighted her with a stack of Madeleine L'Engle books (who believes in supplying entire series, which we love!). We let her skip school on her actual birthday and went shopping and out to lunch in Salt Lake City with Grandma Thompson. Our destination was the King's English Bookstore in Sugar House, where Anna got to choose a few books for her birthday. She was walking on air for a couple of days. I can't believe we have an eleven year-old girl. Travis and I used to talk about how she would be ten and a half when we finally finished his medical training. Here we are with our eleven year-old girl, living in Ogden, Utah in a very cozy condo. We have a lot of blessings, and Anna is certainly one of our greatest. Anyone who spends even a little time around her knows what a special girl she is.
