Jane is nine-years old today. Actually, since 3:33am this morning, but she let me sleep in a little later this year*
After swimming lessons, we went out to lunch at the restaurant of her choosing,** and then attended her godparents’ annual Christmas/New Year’s Bash, where two hundred people in three huge rooms sang Happy Birthday to a kid who couldn’t decide whether to float off the ground in ecstasy or curl up in a terminally mortified ball.
But she did bow to the crowd afterward—to thunderous approval—and if her smile had been any bigger, the corners would have met at the back of her head.
Her real party is tomorrow. Bellydancing in a real studio with real zils and jingling scarves and a Monster High cake in the likeness of Frankie Stein.***
I’ve been reliably informed that it doesn’t get any better than that.
Happy Birthday, sweetheart. Thanks for being born to us—it’s hard to imagine what our lives would’ve been like if you’ve decided otherwise.^
We love you.
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*But not much. She didn’t wake up this excited on Christmas.
** Which I hope had more to do with the prospect of Chocolate Lava Cake for dessert than the Kraft Macaroni & Cheese she ordered as an entree.
***Which has nothing to do with bellydancing and may in fact be the least appetizing confection I’ve seen outside of the Groom’s cake in Steel Magnolias—but I’m not the demographic. And cake, to me, has always, and forever will be, cake.
^Quieter. Less expensive. More serene. Tidier. Boring as hell.
Earful of Cider 
Aw, happy birthday to sweetie Jane.
I’ll pass that along, Bobbi—she’ll be thrilled that the Lady in France who took the chocolate bear photo wishes her a happy birthday!
Really? She was born at 3:33??? That is very cool. And when you add all those digits up you get…9!!! Happy birthday to your eldest angel. I hope her party tomorrow is amazing and that nobody slips a disck.
It was cool, after about six hours of sleep. I’d been up the 36 before that . . .
I myself intend to throw out my hip, or it won’t be a dance party! 🙂
Happy birthday to Jane! What a wonderful way to celebrate. I’m sure the belly dancing party is going to be a blast.
Ready for weird? Today is Sophie’s 13th birthday. She was born at 4:44 p.m.
That’s totally weird, Lisa!!!!
Whoa. That is weird. And yet, totally cool.
Aww, I wish I could say that one of my three was born at 5:55, just to keep it rolling.
Happy birthday, Jane.
Happy Birthday to Jane! I’m sure she’ll be floating for days.
Thanks, Lisa! I’m sure you’re right.
She crashed like a ton of overwhelmed bricks last night, though. I think she was asleep before I tucked her in.
What an awesome party idea! Belated happy birthday wishes to Janie 🙂
I’ll pass them along, Sarah!
My husband teaches yoga at the same studio, so when he heard about the party packages, he thought it was a perfect fit for our dancer.
Jane has to be one of the coolest kids to be having a belly dancing party. So cool!
Happy Birthday nine-year old Jane! I hope the party jingled!
It jingles and jangles and thumped and rocked. It was fun and she dropped like a rock after her bath. Poor, tired nine-year old!
“…who couldn’t decide whether to float off the ground in ecstasy or curl up in a terminally mortified ball.”
Funny, that’s exactly how I’ve felt during and after my first two book events for my short story collection! Happy belated bday to your daughter. I hope she can taste that chocolate lava cake all year long.
Thank you. Laura! I’m sure she’ll try to order it again more than once! 🙂
*sniff* Can mine be nine again?
Happy belated birthday, Sarah Jr.
After the day we had, you can borrow ours for a while (a little too much birthday and far too much acrylic paint on the carpet) . . . 🙂