Jun. 11, 2008
Darling Daughter's Birthday Week Extravaganza
Darling Daughter turned 9 today and has enjoyed her special "Birthday Week Extravaganza" which started early on last Friday, when we had her birthday party for her friends. It was a "Little Lady Luncheon Tea Party" and 6 of her friends were able to come. It was so delightful to see all the little girls excited and in their best dresses. One mother told me her little daughter went back-and-forth all week on what to wear: "It must look "(Darling Daughter's name)-ish."
When they arrived, we gathered flowers and greenery from our yard to make nose-gays for each girl and then put them together in a vase for the centerpeice for the table. They also received hankies Darling Daughter and I had embroidered for them and little paper dolls we had printed off from the internet.
The table was set with a lace tablecloth, white napkins, and Darling Daughter's tea set . The menu consisted of ...
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Strawberry Lemonade
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Gingerbread Scones
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Blueberry Banana Scones
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Keebler Butterfly & Ladybug Shaped Graham Crackers with Strawberry Cream Cheese
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Cheedar Cheese
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Honey Ham Tea Sandwiches on Raisin Bread
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Peanut Butter & Jelly on Wheat that had been cut with a flower-shaped cookie cutter
We explained to the girls some tea etiquette, and showed them how to rub a slice of lemon around their cups and dip it in pink sugar. (That was a big hit!) After a special prayer and blessing that I gave to honor the young ladies and especially my daughter, the girls enjoyed their tea while the moms sat around the coffee table to enjoy ours.
When it came time to open gifts, we wanted to make it special for not only the receiver, but also the giver. DD sat on a chair near the gift table and each girl took turns giving their gift to her and sat on a chair next to her to watch her open it. I then took their pictures and will include them in our thank-you's. It was a delightful time and the girls, most of whom had never been to our home, enjoyed playing in DD's room and outside in the playhouse. All of the girls are wonderful young ladies and I am so grateful for the special friendships my daughter has with them.
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Saturday, her special celebration continued with blueberry pancakes for breakfast. In the afternoon, we shopped up at the city, rode on the double-decker merry-go-round at the mall, and then had supper out at the restaurant of her choice. Afterwards, we enjoyed watching "Taming of the Shrew" at a city parks amphitheater for their Shakespeare on the Green that we attend every year. We also hope to see their youth production of "A Comedy of Errors" later this month. (Yes, I know -- kids who like Shakespeare. Imagine that. DD has liked it from the very first play she saw. Last year for her birthday, we gave her the Lamb's "Tales of Shakespeare.")
Sunday and the past few days have been relaxing and enjoyable. She and I stayed up last night to watch a movie together and we've had some good chats. How I love this little daughter who is growing up so well. With this birthday, being her ninth, we truly ARE half-way done raising her.
This morning, we started off the day with Daddy singing, in a fun rock-n-roll way, "They say its your birthday, nana nana nana na na, Happy birthday to ya!" to wake her up. Then we had a specail birthday breakfast of Breakfast Birthday Cake. After Daddy went to work, we received a phone call from our friend saying the kittens had finally arrived.
[SIDE NOTE: The Saga of the Kittens..... Our dear friend had arranged for us to have 2 kittens from one of her other friend's litter. (Read HERE about that story and the special names Darling Daughter chose.) Unfortunately, she was unable to coordinate it with him for several days and when she did finally talk to him, he had bad news -- his kittens had been in the woods and he was afraid they were not healthy and didn't want to give us wild, potentially sick kittens. She felt bad, and asked her husband to check at work to see if anyone else may have some. She called this Monday to let us know the news, but to also let us know that one of her husband's co-workers had a litter of six or seven week old kittens that needed homes. All is happy and joyous in our house again, and Darling Daughter has truly grown in patience and seeing that God works all things to work together for good for those who love him.]
So I told a very delighted daughter and an excited son the news and after our morning work, we went over to pick them up. They are beautiful little things! The all-gray female has been christened Charlotte and the orange male tabby has been named Mason. They are rooming in our large master bathroom, and will get settled in there for a week or two before exploring the rest of the house.
This evening, we'll be making the supper of her choice together: Hamburgers, Baked Beans, and Homemade Fries. Afterwards, we will be giving her our gifts. (Thru-out the year, I pick things up that I think people will like, so all I had to do this year for her was go to the gift closet and wrap. =D ) She will be receiving:
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Quantum Pad 4th Grade History (is there a homeschooling mom who can't help but include educational things?)
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"Andrea Carter and the Family Secret" by Susan Marlow
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The American Girls Handy Book (I can't wait to look at this with her)
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Swim Goggles that she's been wanting
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Stamps and her very own address labels (she has been writing to friends and wants to do more of it this summer)
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A Handheld Sewing Machine
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Nan Harper Doll Dress & Book
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A "Rain Check" on a new summer nightgown I want to make for her
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I have been the bride to the most gracious, sweetest man in the world for the last 11 years. What I love most about him is that he is always striving to be a better husband, father, and child of God.
