Gladys Pennington of Marysville turned 100 and is now just six years younger than the oldest living person in the world. A birthday party featured a visit from two miniature horses and about a dozen great-grandchildren. What's her secret for such a big birthday? Her family said, for her, it's the little things. For example: -- Little meals: "She has always been on portion control. You know, she'll eat half of things," said Janice Schroeder, her daughter. -- Little animals: "I have a little dog that she loves. She just loves patting him on the head. She says, 'He's so cute,'" said Schroeder. -- Little kids: "I remember when you were a small boy," said Pennington, admiring her 11-year-old great-grandson Hezekiah.