The 8-Year-Old has Entered the Building

There's too much pressure in writing the first blog entry from our corner of the family so I waited for a monumental occasion that spoke for itself...Amelia's 8th birthday.

We had a lot riding on 8...no carseat, getting ears pierced, baptism of course and her being able to go to Activity Day Girls activities (this is in order based on Amelia's excitement level!!) Thursday we went together to a salon (sans carseat) and had pedicures followed with the highly anticipated piercing. She chatted happily for the hour of feet pampering out of excitement for the "real" reason we were there. Truthfully, she would have been more than happy to just have her ears done, the pedicure was more for me. When it came time, she put on a brave smile and barely flinched when the earrings went in. Later she admitted that it REALLY hurt but beauty is pain and she grinned and beared it (is that how you spell beared??). I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. Coming into the house, we were ambushed at the door by Evelyn who was bursting in half with excitement for Amelia and disappointment that she's not old enough (the story of her life right now unfortunately).

Day of Amelia's birthday - I'm not sure who was more excited, her or Evelyn. Amelia was up first of course (our before 6am early riser) but I heard Evelyn's footsteps follow soon after with a very loud "AMELIA, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY TODAY!!! She was giving Amelia birthday hugs all morning not being able to contain her excitement Evelyn style. Later, it was taking an unusually long time for them to get dressed so I went up to investigate. Evelyn was painstakingly trying to coordinate her, Amelia and Audree's outfits to match Amelia's new earrings. Then was the hunt for everyone's flip-flops. Evelyn was insisting Amelia wear flip-flops to school to show off her pedicured feet. Audree NEVER needs an excuse to get on her flip-flops (in fact, we only got her out of them at the beginning of December) and in true Evelyn fashion, Evie was wearing them with tights underneath. Tights came off (I can only let so much pass) and off they went to school with flip-flops in their bags. I was worried their teachers wouldn't let them take off their socks but fashion prevailed and my girls were allowed to wear flip-flops mid-January. Evelyn also carried Amelia's school bag in honour of the birthday girl and announced to the world of the special day. That girl sure loves her sister!

The festivities continued with a surprise visit from the St Catharines clan, perfectly timed for Uncle Adam and Addison to get the girls off the bus (surprise for the girls, not for me) and a wonderful dinner with Grandma and Aunt Erica. Birthday bedtime, 10pm...with Addison sadly commenting that Aunt Erin forgot to read a bedtime story. Sorry Addison, in this house anything after 8:30pm has a go-straight-to-bed-do-not-pass-go policy.

We have one happy 8-year-old with a 5-year-old shadow. I know it won't last forever but it sure is cute.