Belated Birthday

By Amy

Well, actually it wasn't a belated birthday -- just a belated post.... But, here are the pictures and details you've all been waiting for...

Savannah's birthday fell on a Saturday this year. And, since we already have plans every Saturday for lunch and all afternoon, we decided to celebrate Savannah's day on the Friday before. Needless to say, Savannah thought that was a great idea, but she wanted to open half her presents on Friday and save half for Saturday. No problem!

About a week before her birthday, she reached one of the reading goals we had set. So, instead of going out for ice cream, she opted for an early birthday present. So, while Savannah I did school at the kitchen table, Brad went into her room and set up her gift...

A pink tent!!

It actually turned out to be a little bigger than I expected, but that's OK. All three kids love it! For several nights we let them all sleep in it together -- which is what they did on the Thursday night before we celebrated Savannah's birthday.

On Friday morning she got to eat coffee cake for breakfast, then, got to look at the birthday cake I had made for her.... Now, you know the saying, "Like Mother-Like Daughter"? Well, Savannah is like her Mama! When she gets something in her head, she knows exactly what she wants, and it's hard to convince her anything else will do.... Usually in our family, the kids get to tell me what kind/shape birthday cake they want, but they don't get to see it until the morning of their birthday. But, I asked Savannah if she'd help me ice her cake. She politely declined, saying she wanted it to be a surprise -- "but I want the cross to be pink, with blue outline and a yellow heart in the middle with blue flowers next to it....." YIKES! I wasn't sure I could make it the way she wanted. (And if I did, would it be a surprise?)

She said it turned out a little different than she expected (like the purple sides and yellow at the bottom) but that made it better, not worse! Whew! I was afraid she was going to be disappointed!
Here are all three kids...notice the lovely homemade birthday hats!

After eating coffee cake and checking out the birthday cake, we threw on bathing suits and went downtown. Savannah wanted to run through the fountains at the big square. The fountains turn on three times a day -- typically. They are choreographed to music --it's pretty fun! Even though it wasn't super sunny, it was warm enough to enjoy getting wet! And, needless to say, we attracted quite a crowd! Brad got the "Parent of the Year" award for joining in the fun!

My kids really do eat here, it just doesn't stick to their bones like it does to their Mama's!

After playing in the fountains, we planned on returning home to eat lunch. Savannah requested that Leigh make her favorite -- Sweet 'n sour chicken, to be complemented by mac'n cheese (interesting combo!) But, just before we got in a taxi, Leigh called to say that our home had no electricity or water, so she couldn't cook lunch. No one was too sad when we redirected to the McD's at the Square.

After lunch we decided to return home to survey the situation, get out of bathing suits, and bring Leigh a burger. As we got out of the taxi, I realized that having no electricity means we couldn't take the elevator up 13 stories to reach our home! It was a long hike, but we made it! And, 10 minutes after we got home everything was back on.

That afternoon, we opened gifts, played a new game -- Sorry - Thanks Grandma! Then, we ate Volcanoes for dinner, a family favorite (also requested on the boys' birthday), and ate birthday cake. Did I mention that Savannah's cake wasn't a special shape because she wanted a round, double-layer lethal peppermint chocolate cake? Like I said, Like Mother - Like Daughter! It was quite yummy, if I do say so myself!

So, overall, it was a great day! Savannah is a precious gift from our Father above, and we rejoice in the 6 years of life He's given her! She's growing into a godly, mature young girl, and we're so proud of her!