Skipping Town

She's eight! Every year, during the buildup and then the celebration of Lucia's birthday, Greta's birthday seems a million years away. She waits and waits. Finally, it came, and we celebrated her eighth birthday yesterday. She's been sick for days--fever and cough and throat, with two doctor visits and a strep test and lots of time breathing in albuterol through the nebulizer--but is on the upswing, so she was mostly able to enjoy her day. She woke up to find a letter board in her room spelling out "Happy 8th Birthday Greta" then came downstairs to find a giant number 8 balloon and flowers. She (and Lucia) opened two presents right away--a new Fox Trot book and a Kit (American Girl) building set. She asked for crepes for breakfast. It was an insanely rainy day, but at eleven we headed out nonetheless to the Rahway Kitty Hall--a cat cafe in a nearby town. It was a great place. Lots of very sweet, playful kittens, plus toys and treats to entice them with. We p

And the birthday month begins! Lucia turned ten today--double digits. She's been looking forward to her birthday for MONTHS. Maybe even since her last birthday. And she had a great day today. Putting together a perfect birthday celebration is a lot of work BUT it's ultimately gratifying because she truly appreciates and revels in every single detail. Her day began when she woke up and saw her brand-new letterboard arranged on a chair in her room, the letters spelling out HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY LUCIA! (This was a very specific request she'd made.) Downstairs, I'd tied giant number helium balloons for 1-0 to a kitchen chair (these things are huge--like 34"). I'd also gotten her a bouquet of flowers with a Happy Birthday pick, which were in a vase at her place at the table. Two gifts waited for each girl, and they opened them right away: a Halloween Squishmallow, and a Calving & Hobbes book (Lucia) and a Fox Trot book (Greta). Andrew made waffles. Then the kids