Neighbors: Golden Girl

Ellie Boder will be turning 11 on Nov. 11 — her golden birthday. The date, 11/11/11, only happens only once every 100 years.

Do you have a birthday wish this year?
A loft bed.

What’s on your gift list?
I’d like people to donate 11 small things to the Humane Society and places that help animals. We’re going to collect them at my house.

How will you celebrate?
It’s going to be really awesome. It’s going to start at 4 p.m. on Friday. My mom says we’re doing fireworks at 11:11. It’s going to be a big, cool party and a slumber party. We’re playing “Man Hunt.” It’s a fun game — one team is hiding and another’s searching. It’s played in the dark. It’s sort of like hide-and-seek.

Is there a theme to your party?
We’ll have 11 treats in the gift bags. Everything will be multiples of 11 or 11, except for number of kids at my party. There’s going to be a lot more. Oh, and a cookie cake in the shape of 11.

What did you do last year?
All six girls in my class came over and we had a slumber party. It was sort of a dance party. We turned all the lights off and put on music, then danced around with glow sticks.

Do any of your friends share the same birthday?
No.

Do you know what national holiday Nov. 11 is?
It’s Veterans Day. There’s going to be a parade in school, too.

Do you have family members who are veterans?
Both my grandfathers were in one of the world wars. One of them lost a toe in an explosion.

What are your favorite things to do?
I like to build with pipe cleaners — make little animals and things. I also like to build little huts in the dirt. The things that I make out of pipe cleaners, they live in those little huts. I have a toad — his name is Steve — and he’s burrowed in the dirt right now. I found him hopping around. I had 10 at one point. I also like fishing and wading in the pond across the street.

What does your mom think about your birthday this year?
She says it’s going to be a special day for a special kid.

What’s something you’re really passionate about?
I love spiders, and I hate it when people kill them. That’s what my science fair project was about this year. I think spiders are awesome. Jumping spiders, especially, can be very cute. They have these really big eyes that almost look like puppy eyes.

Will 11/11/11 be a lucky day?
I’m not superstitious. I think it’s an awesome date, and I’m turning 11 on 11/11/11. (She’s been looking forward to it for last five years, according to Ellie’s mom, Heidi.)

Will you feel any different after you turn 11?
No. I’ll still be in fifth grade.