Birthday Boy

 Tanner turned 10 this month.  He was so excited about his birthday this year!  At school the dancing, singing, mechanical hamster got placed on his desk and it sang "Happy Birthday" to him.  Then the live rat (in a bucket--cage cleaning time) got to hang out on his desk and it pooped while there...and that was really funny for some reason!  Must be 10 year old boy humor, encouraged by his oft-times sophomoric Mom and Dad.

Dinner was pizza and macaroni & cheese.  Alia decorated the cake.   Grandma & Grandpa P. joined us for dessert.  It was a good day!

 The cake was designed by Tanner and Alia, but decorated by Alia.  We purchased some gel tints for cake decorating--wow! do they make intense colors!  So much better than regular food coloring!

Happy Birthday, Handsome! 

Concert and Other stuff

 Alia had a band concert recently.  Here are a few of us with her after the concert.

 She is the bit of blond hair under the red arrow to the left of center.

 Alia asked me to braid her hair "dutch" style--like a french braid.  After I did Alia's hair, Elena asked me to do hers as well.  I was amazed at how well the two braids stayed in!