Double Digits

We recently celebrated the anniversary of 10 years of parenting, better known as Caelan's birthday. Wow. My firstborn is 10? She's rather quickly becoming a young lady instead of a growing girl. She's smart, funny, loves to help in the kitchen (or chef on her own), loves to read, writes a great story, and is generally very pleasant to spend time with . . . I mean she's human right, so there are moments of oldest child syndrome (which I wouldn't know ANYTHING about myself, right sibs? hee hee :) And, her easy-going, thoughtful nature again selected a birthday theme that went right along with our overall household decor--Christmas lights.

I must admit, it was fun shopping the pre-Christmas 70% off sales on lights and ornaments shaped like lights (I never get to buy Christmas ornaments, we are existing off of childhood hand-me downs, several gifts for the kids, ornaments made by the kids, and a few leftover boxes from Buck's bachelor tree days :) I strung extra colored lights throughout the Christmas tree room, and it just glows, and I just love it!

We "woke" her with the traditional family birthday singalong as she kicked her way through 20 pink balloons on the floor of her shared room. In the kitchen, ribbon spelled out her name and age in pink and purple sparkle. We also have the kids open a gift first thing at the table, something that will keep them all busy while we are getting breakfast together. Caelan opened a Cat's Cradle guide book, with DVD! Oh yeah! It was about this time that we discovered we didn't have any bread and she wanted French Toast . . . oops. Now in "normal" locations, this wouldn't cause the moments of panic and debate that immediately ensued. See, on Sundays around here, EVERYTHING is closed . . . except the new gas station, so yes, we had gas station bread french toast for breakfast, and everyone was happy :)

Just before church, I surprised Caelan with a light up Christmas lights necklace for her to wear . . . so cool! She was given many happy birthday greetings at church, and then we walked (through the snow) to the Mexican restaurant (who's surprised? :) for our birthday kid gets to drink pop and wear a sombrero and gets to eat a specially provided dessert luncheon.

Afterwards, we scooted back home, played a board game together (thanks Uncle C), and then ate birthday cake . . . again, easy-going, no frosting just marshmallows, cake, and strawberries ooooh yummy! She had to strong arm her little brother to prevent his "helping" blow out her candles . . . ah little brothers.

Next, gift opening! Turns out Grandma J and her dad and I had the same idea for gift giving this year--a light up fashion design table :) She's thrilled with them both, and shares with her sister and brothers (G designed a pretty sweet outfit on the Project Runway version :O)

As a surprise, following an impromptu dinner of homemade pizza (she's been asking for a year, and it has been on the meal planning list that long . . . moving from week to week, never getting made because Costco pizzas are so much easier and faster :O); the original plan was beans and rice, but I forgot it takes 2 hours to make, oops!

We were on a schedule, because what she didn't know was that we had an appointment in Bethlehem that night! A local family and their church line their property with luminaries and invite "travelers" to see if the inn has any room. Of course it doesn't, so a "shepherd" led our crew past a roaring bonfire, along a moonlit snowpath to a half-shed filled with angels . . . guess who they were singing about? That's right, a bit farther up the path, indeed inside a chilly barn, Mary, Joseph, and the baby were waiting to visit with their visitors. Several years ago, our pediatrician invited Buck and myself to play these roles, along with our newborn baby (but we had three older babies and that would have thrown off the storyline a bit :o) Four couples gave their time to dress as the blessed family this year, and it is just so special to imagine what it must have been like for Mary and Joseph when Jesus arrived in such meager surroundings. Such a neat opportunity for the kids to witness!

Our grand finale was a drive through the Christmas lights display in our town's City Park. The mayor handed out candy canes and we all ooohed and ahhhed at the drummer boys and gingerbread men all glowing in festive colors, reflected off the snow. Pretty special day for a very special girl!