Bitty's Birthday

Our baby Bitty turned 11 this August, and had a really lovely birthday. Of course, it happened the day before school started, so naturally it was kind of hectic, but hey, at my house, what kid's birthday isn't totally crazy?

Bitty planned her birthday celebration all on her own, and her idea was charming. Before that though Bitty got a really really sweet surprise.  On Saturday afternoon we arrived home from an outing of some kind. I have no idea what it was. That's what happens when you don't blog about something until six weeks have gone by. Some of the details get a little fuzzy. Anyway, we arrived home to find a very large box on our front porch addressed to Bitty, and it was from her cousins in St. George. I was going to have her wait until the next day, her actual birthday, to open it,  but she was too excited. I was feeling slightly horrified deep down to see this huge box - what on earth had they sent? As it turns out, it wasn't a gift really, not a toy or box of new clothing, or anything big and expensive. Instead it was a priceless memory that Bitty will remember fondly forever. The box was filled with confetti and balloons. Each balloon had a message written on it telling Bitty something each person loved about her, plus a bunch spelling out Happy Birthday! It was amazingly sweet. Bitty was so filled with joy and love. Couldn't ask for a better present than that. Thanks for taking the time and energy to do that, you guys.

That evening we had a little celebration for Bitty.  It was all her idea. First of all, she just wanted to go out to dinner with one friend. This cute gal has been a buddy of Bitty's since 1st grade. They really wanted to go to Noodles and Company, so we did. Skippidy and I sat at a different table to give the birthday guest a little pre-teen privacy.

After dinner we came back to our house for a viewing of the original Ghostbusters. Bitty and I made cupcakes earlier in the day, and she had a very specific plan for them. She wanted to make the cupcakes and then cover them with "slime." (Actually a very tasty lemon curd.) She then decided that she would announce that it was cupcake time and I would go get them, then start exclaiming in distress over the state of the cupcakes. Bitty and her friend were to run into the kitchen to see what was the matter, whereupon I was to cry out, "Your Cupcakes Got Slimed!!"  I'm happy to report that her plan worked perfectly and everyone was delighted with the slimed cupcakes.  I'm grateful for famous baking you-tuber Rosana Pansino for the idea, and even more grateful to my daughter who did not insist on completing the recipe with a hand-piped Ghostbuster symbol made of icing to perch precariously on top of each one.

On Sunday morning we had just enough time for a breakfast of scones with a couple little gifts such as new pajamas and some school clothes. Not to mention a GIANT watermelon balloon, which was all I could get from Smith's at 11:00 on a Saturday night. (No....I didn't do Bitty's shopping the night before, nope, not me!) I need to state here as I write this on October the 11th that that balloon is still afloat to this day. In fact, it's hovering right behind me in our laundry nook where it was a nuisance for a long time but has now become a permanent fixture. I think we just are waiting to see how long it's going to last.

After church we held a little family celebration where Bitty received her big and much longed-for gift of a Nintendo 2DS - I'll just say that so far we've gotten our money's worth out of that thing. Probably too much money's worth. She loves it.

Auntie Margaret and Apa came over for key lime pie - Bitty's absolute favorite.

It was a grand celebration to celebrate my truly grand girl. Bitty is one force of nature, I'm telling you. What a big heart, what an ability to be generous and kind. I love watching her become a young woman, knowing herself better and better. She's a truly darling little performer - I can see her in a comedy troupe someday. (Season 19 of Studio C! Yes!!) I look forward to the years ahead as she blossoms into a person who's not only my daughter but a really neat person who brings a lot of good to the world.

Love you, my Bitty.