Five years

Susannah,

     On Friday, we celebrated your fifth birthday.   Fifth!   How can you be five?   How can five years have already passed since we held you for the first time in the little Alsatian clinic where you were born?   Your Daddy and I were immediately in love.   We were also terrified and overwhelmed since we had no idea how to take care of a newborn baby.   But mainly, we were overwhelmed by how intense our love was for you , by how special you were, and by how our little family felt more real, more correct,  now that you were in it.  In those first few days at the hospital, we knew that parenting you was going to be an immense blessing.   But nothing, absolutely nothing, could have prepared us for the abundant joy and life that you have brought to us.  Each year, the joy of knowing you increases exponentially as you grow a little bit more into the person that you will eventually become.  You have really developed and changed this year, your fifth year.   You are independent and get yourself completely ready for school every morning.   (Sometimes you need help with socks or tights, but that is the exception.)  You are kind, observant, inquisitive, brave, and funny.    You love to solve puzzles, you love to read, and you love your ballet class.   You thrive at school, and are such a leader, despite the fact that you are in a foreign culture and language.  And you are the absolute most thoughtful and protective big sister to Sarah Avery.   She adores you most in the world and is so brave when you are with her.   Daddy and I are so very proud of you, our beautiful first born girl, and we can't wait to walk beside you as you learn and grow in this coming year.    

And now, here are the pictures from your big day........

We started the day with "Happy Birthday" and a candle in your chocolate chip pancake.

You had been waiting for weeks for this day to come, so you were more than ready to get it started. 

After breakfast, we did our advent activities.   

And got dressed in our Frozen outfit in honor of your party theme.   Your Elsa obsession hasn't slowed and you had no doubt that your party needed to be a Frozen one. 

All ready for school.

We walked to school with pink sparkle cupcakes for you to share with your friends. 

 And while you were at school, your Daddy and I got busy getting the apartment ready......

We set out the party favors, which you had so carefully labeled .

And we set up the cupcakes to look like Elsa's dress.
  

Thanks to the commissary and to pinterest for making this so very easy.  

The playroom all decked out and ready.

The calm before the storm.   

When we arrived at school, you and your friends came running out, so excited for the birthday party fun to begin.  

Yay!

First activity was snack-time.    We had to laugh though because you guys wouldn't eat until everybody had washed their hands.   You all lined up in a neat little row outside the water closet.   Your teachers would have been proud.  

 Halfway through snacks, everybody made a detour to your room to get outfitted in princess dresses.   All except your friend Felix, the only boy of the group, who wore a pirate hat instead.  ;)

Then it was time for cupcakes and "Happy Birthday."   We sang in English first and then in German.   

                                     

Cupcakes!

Yum!

After snack time, we decorated some bracelets.  

Sehr schon!

Then you opened your presents.   You received lots of coloring books and supplies.

But your favorite gift was an Elsa skirt, which you wore that night and the next day.   

You and your best friends.    These girls were so sweet to you all day.   We feel so thankful that you have found such wonderful friends here in our neighborhood..   

After presents were opened, it was time for "pin the nose on the olaf."

Thank goodness my German friend was here to explain the game.    You helped translate for me a couple of time too though.   I'm so amazed by how confident you are jumping between languages.   This is a recent development and one that I'm thankful for, as you often translate for me with the other kindergarten parents.   

Getting close!

Sarah Avery had two of her friends over to play during the party.   Here she is sharing some cheddar bunnies with her friend Marlena.

"Sure, help yourself."   :)

After all of your friends left and we cleaned up the wreckage, you and Daddy made some pizza for dinner. 

And then it was the moment you had been waiting for all week......time to open the presents from the grandparents!!(Thank you, wonderful family, for helping make this day special, even from across the Atlantic!)

You were so excited to get this new tent and lots of new Bernstein Bear books, which is your newest reading obsession.  You even got stuffed animal versions of the B. Bear family.    (I should also note that Daddy almost killed himself trying to get out of this tent after setting it up from the inside.)  

And that was your fifth birthday!   Daddy and I were so happy to watch you have such a wonderful day.   We love you Beauty!   To the moon and back one million, trillion times!

Love,
Mommy