I have a nine year old. Even though I just typed that out and even though I just kissed her sweet birthday cheeks this morning, I still can’t believe it. She was the first one to teach us how amazing it was to be a parent, the first one to change our lives and show what was really important in life. She’s our entertainer, she’s a lover, she’s a tester (IS SHE EVER!) and she’s ours. Last night, I was able to ask her a few important questions.

So, what’s tomorrow? My birthday.
How old are you going to be? Nine.
Do you feel older? A little bit, I feel very different.
Do you feel taller? A little bit, I felt like I was growing a little bit earlier because my legs started hurting.
Did you have a birthday party last week? Yeah. What kind? A ceramic party.
Was it fun? Yes.
What’s your favorite color? Green and blue
What’s your favorite food that Mommy makes? Pasta. Macaroni. Hot chocolate. Chicken.
Do you like to help me in the kitchen? Yes, I’m your sous-chef.
Have you received any birthday presents yet? Yeah, I got the thing that I really wanted. I got the girl legos.
This past year, a lot of things happened. Can you name a few? You had Clara and I turned 8 and I swam in my friend’s pool.
Did you get a new roommate? Yeah, we traded rooms and me and Noah share a room now.
And do you like it? Yeah. A little bit.
Do you miss your old room? Yeah.
What’s your favorite thing to do? Play basketball, play with my friends and ride the bus.
Can I take you to school tomorrow? No. I was thinking of it but I changed my mind because I like the bus because I like the smell.
Do you smell everything? Yeah, I smell the seats, they smell like plastic.
How much do you love being a big sister to THREE siblings? I loooove it because I’m the oldest. I get to hold Clara a lot.
And how much do you love having a sister? I love it! I’ve been waiting all these years.
Is she very special to you? Yes, she is.
Tell me one thing that you love about your brother Noah? He’s nice and he shares and we play Legos together.
Tell me one thing you love about Eli. He gives hugs, he calls Noah “elmo,” gives me kisses and he watches Elmo.
And Clara? She’s cute and fluffy, in a good way, like soft and smooth.
Does she smell good? Yeah.
What do you think you’ll be when you’re older? I don’t know. A sushi waitress? (tons of laughter) I’m just kidding!
What do you do everyday on the iPad? I check the weather for everywhere in the United States.
What do you love about your Mom? She’s pretty and nice and she let’s me play on the iPad.
What about Dad? He is awesome, he gives us our own computers because he fixes them and I don’t really get to see him a lot because he has work and school.
But when he’s home, he’s pretty fun, huh? Yeah, REALLY fun. So are you, Mom.
If you could do anything in the whole wide world on your birthday, what would be? Give everybody in the whole world a hug.
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Happy Birthday to our sweet baby girl!





























Love your interview! Such a neat girl. I hope she has the happiest of birthdays!
Aw, she is so cute!! Happy birthday, sweet girl! Hope you have a great day!
aw she sounds like such a great kid! happy NINTH bday!!
Aww. So, SO sweet! Happy ninth birthday to Anna!
Let Anna know that I was a waitress in a sushi place for six months and I quit because I had to tip out almost half my tips to the sushi chef. Sushi Chef is the way to go, you know, if you are in it for the money.
Happy Birthday, sweet girl!
Happy Birthday! Love that purple picture xo
Happy Birthday to sweet Anna! She is so awesome.
Oh man, I wish we lived near each other so she could be friends with my 9 yo daughter. She sounds like just the kind of friend we like. Good job Mom and Dad!
Anna is a precious 9 year old. Happy Birthday to Anna! Loved her interview. And I use to love the smell of plastic too…but school bus seats?
Happy birthday sweet girl!
Happy Birthday to Anna. She sounds just like 9, in a good way.
I love this so much it literally hurts.
Very sweet. My little girl is going to be 34 soon. I cannot believe it. She’s a mommy of three daughters and I am so blest to be her ‘mom’ and their grandma.
I love your interview questions. I may have to start that as a tradition too. What beautiful children you have. Happy Birthday to your daughter!
Great big cyber hugs to your sweet little nine year old! : )
Another great interview and more awesome answers, I enjoy reading these SO much. The picture of her is beautiful, it’s so ANNA! Happy Birthday, Anna Banana! I love you1!!
Wow, she’s becoming such a young lady! Happy Birthday Anna!!
I loved that she wanted to give everyone in the world a hug! How precious!
Oh, this made me cry! I especially like the part about smelling the bus seats.
I love this! It’s just so sweet. I hope I remember to do the same thing when my baby’s old enough to answer:-).
I hope Anna had a great birthday! What a sweet girl. I love that you interview them and ask them such sweet questions. What a great idea! (im stealing it by the way
hope you don’t mind. Your such beautiful mom Beth and inspire to me to be a better one. Thank you for sharing a part of your life.
Another great interview and I just loved all her answers. Giving everyone in the world a hug is such a full heart thing for her to say and so sweet. That just goes to show what great parenting you and Brian are doing. I thank you for sharing this special piece of your family life with all your blog readers, including me. I really want to do one for my daughter’s 8th birthday this summer. I am so excited to see what her answers would be to questions I come up with. It is such a unique idea. The first picture of Anna is so full of life and beautiful. Happy 9th Birthday to your life-changing firstborn
I hope you are doing well. Take care, Mich
She is just darling. I love the pic of her in the kitchen. I think she will be whatever she wants to be and be the very best at it. 9 is a great age!