Today was my 16th birthday and it was great!! I have already celebrated my birthday on a couple other days so today wasn't as big of a deal. My sweet dog Abbie woke me up at 9:00 by coming in my room and climbing onto my bed and laying down and letting me pet her. Even though I would've liked to sleep in more, I definitely didn't mind. My mom made an amazing breakfast of a fruit smoothie, eggs and bacon and I took a nice shower and got ready for the day.
 
    I called the Higgs (a family that I often hang out with) and I asked if the mom and the 2 boys wanted to go on a walk with me. We walked around town for a bit and then I walked with them to the house they are staying at to help feed the boys lunch. Mrs Higgs asked me to try to teach Grayson how to eat a slice of orange off the peel since he thinks I'm cool and he will do whatever I do. I am proud to say that even though he ended up with juice all over his shirt, he was successful in eating 5 orange slices :). I got to read stories to Grayson before his nap and I even laid down with him to snuggle for a few minutes which was definitely a privelege! The 2 boys slept while I worked on the computer doing online driver's ed and transferring pictures. The almost-one-year-old Isaiah woke up after only about 35 minutes and I let him cry at first but then went and got him. He played on the floor while I finished my work and then I played with him for a few minutes until Mr and Mrs H got home. Then I went to the store with Mrs H and Isaiah before coming home. 



Mrs Higgs, me and Isaiah at my 16th birthday party (more to come later)

     Here at the house I worked on packing, more driver's ed, checked all my birthday messages on facebook and then I took my dog for our last walk in the woods behind our house for the next year. Very sad. Hopefully we can find fun, beautiful places in the States for her and I to enjoy. Tonight was chill with a yummy salad dinner. Mom and I tried to make granola bars but we didn't have dried cranberries so I tried biking to a nearby grocery store but it was closed so I ended up biking to the grocery store across town to get them and in the meantime the ingredients that had been warming on the stove had burned. So we started over and it worked this time and they were yummy. Also, my amazing best friend called me and sang Happy Birthday in a way that made me burst out laughing within seconds (I had to put my finger over the mouthpiece so I wouldn't interupt the serenade). Mom and I watched a movie and now she is gonna give me a deluxe massage.

What a wonderful day!