Double Digits

Avey is now 10 years old. There, I said it. I can’t possibly be in denial if I openly admit it, right? She’s cast off her younger self: the one that we used to cuddle and snuggle; the one who would wake up and shout, “Daddy! It’s time to wake up and plAAAaaay!”; the one who used to ask me to talk like The Muppets. Now she is embracing her older self who prefers to read by herself, watch superhero movies, play with people her own age, and practice the violin and flute. I suppose we can’t have one without the other, but it sure would be nice to switch back and forth for just a few minutes, even if just for nostalgia. 

She made it a grand celebration this year. On the special day, she requested pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries, bacon on the side. She opened up a present from her auntie and uncle that we knew was a t-shirt, so that she could show it off at school. Kira and I then spent the day preparing gifts and gearing up for the afternoon celebration. 

I took the day off of work (I don’t teach anyway) to work on a project gift for her. Several years ago, we inherited an old and thoroughly loved desk from my childhood home. We gave it to Avey when she got her own room, and due to its years of being abused, we thought perhaps we should renovate it a bit. Avey picked out colors over the summer, but never seemed to have the motivation to work on it much. It was a pretty big project, so I thought I would surprise her by having it finished when she got home from school on her birthday. 

She was very surprised, and I’m pleased with how it turned out. I wish I had taken a photo before I painted it! I only hope that we can keep the drawers half organized.

That afternoon, we continued with her list of activities. She had requested cheeseburgers for dinner, so I cooked those up, and Kira put together a simple pinata upon which the kids could take out their rage. 

After dinner, cake, and the rest of the presents, we put the boys to bed. Avey, Kira, and I then sat down to watch the recent Wonder Woman film, enjoying it thoroughly, but getting to bed a little past our bedtime, as the boys have been getting up right at 5 each morning like clockwork. 

Saturday was the extended celebration, as Kira took Avey and Carver to see the new Ninjago movie. She enjoyed it, but was a little disappointed by how much they had changed from the series she and Carver have grown to love.

Per her request, we ate pizza for lunch, and then prepared for a “shaving cream war.” The two younger boys were quickly overwhelmed by the chaos and stickiness, so came in with me to get cleaned off. Avey, Carver, and Kira got into the game (Avey even put on war paint and made a little holster for the can), and made a big foamy mess of the whole backyard.

She spent that night finishing another superhero movie, Man of Steel. It was an especially nice present for her that today she does not have to go to church, but gets to sit on the couch eating popcorn for the General Conference. 

The boys are all about the same. Merritt sprouted his eighth tooth on Thursday, but woke up at 4:30 this morning, apparently wanting me to have some time to make waffles and bacon. Carver loves Kindergarten, and Hakan misses having his buddy around all the time.

We are excited for October and all of the candy it brings!

#Happenings