Ben and Christina

The pictures are backwards, but hopefully you get the idea.

We celebrated Claire's Birthday on the 8th with extended family. After the Renaissance Faire, we went to Northridge Park and had pizza and a big Birthday chocolate chip cookie. 

Then on Sunday, we had a bbq and a cake that Camille made to celebrate again.

She didn't want make-up for her Birthday like Audra got for her 14th, instead she wanted a new pair of Converse. I think this is going to be a trend for her.

She insisted that after spending most of her Birthdays in Seattle, she wanted to be home for this one. Why? Because the Young Women spoil the girls on their Birthday, and she wanted to be spoiled. They definitely came through! Not only did they decorate the yard and the door, but two young women brought her over a plate of cupcakes. She was glad to be home for all of it.

Northridge Park.

Audra with cute Baby I.

Here is Claire at 14:

-She LOVES sports- it doesn't really matter which sport, as long as their is a team she can be on

-She LOVED middle school, and is nervous for high school

-She has made several good friends

-She is still fiesty

-She is still hilarious- she has excellent wit

-She picks on Camille WAY too much- they definitely know how to push each other's buttons

-She loves Converse. She wants to fit in, and her shoes are one of her ways

-She works hard- when she wants to

-She plays piano beautifully. I only wish I could get her to practice more!

-She wants to stay up until 9:30 or 10 every night. While I know this is normal for a teenager, it's an adjustment for Ben and me who are used to having that quiet time

-She always has to know the "why." She's not going to do anything without knowing the purpose, and if the purpose isn't a good one, she won't do it

-She asks to go to the doctor at least once a week. She's a bit of a hypochondriac

-She is also a germaphobe. I'm actually a little worried about this and hope she doesn't become OCD like her father

-She is insistent she will be a better driver than Audra and that she already knows how to drive and she doesn't understand why I won't let her drive all over town

-She is taller than Audra and she makes sure that everybody knows it

-She still loves traditions and hates when things are different than the way it was done before

-She has no interest in make-up and believes that girls should just be natural
-She thinks having a boyfriend is stupid
-She can drive us crazy with her mood swings, but then she'll be the sweetest and kindest person on the planet so it's hard to stay mad at her for too long

-She loves playing Batman with Audra and Ben on the computer

-She loves the TV show Roswell

-She still won't eat rice