Cera with shoes

So Cera thinks for some reason shoe laces are not supposed to stay in shoes. I have to hide my tennis shoes or she takes the laces out. Weird I know.

Everytime she takes her shoes off, she spends ten minutes taking the laces out.
Today Toby left his shoes out. She took the laces out, but stepped it up by somehow getting the plastic off the ends of the laces, making them pretty much unusable.

Just awesome. While he was putting them in I explained that is why the house looks like it does. She thinks everything should be torn in pieces.

So cute to watch until she has done it to your shoes or you need her to get her shoes on quickly.

Courtneys Birthday

Well after figuring out this different computer and getting the website to not be in japanese.. I hope to have this figured out.
Today was Courtney's Birthday. She turned 11. I can't even believe it.. All the stuff that we have done in a short 11 years.
Funny that today she had no problem waking up early. Every other morning I have to wake her up 5 times.

We had a great day. She opened presents in the morning and then I took treats to school. No they were not homemade. She requested cupcakes from the commissary because that is "what all the kids bring". I guess you are supposed to order them.. so instead I took very healthy candy bars for everyone :)

She seemed to care that I showed up and did something for her. Their classes don't have parties or anything, so I am not ever really at the school.. so I think she liked the random showing up.

Then we all went to dinner at Macaroni Grill. I know we live in Japan, but she got to pick and since we get the benefits of eating American on a military base if we want.. she went with that option.

We have been doing fantastic at not eating out.. so going out with the family has become quite a treat. Once a month maybe!!! Other than that is home cooked meals.

After, we just came home and hung out as a family. She was drawing and watching a movie with Carmen while Toby gave me a blessing for my new calling I am completly not qualified for.

All in all it was a great day.

So glad for Courtney. She is going to be a great mother someday. She is so patient with the girls and such a help around the house. She adds that sweet quite spirit to our home and reminds us that we should be going to church every Sunday! :)

What a fantastic daughter I have been blessed with to be an example to me. Love you Courtney!!!!!!!!