The Mermaid Is 8

Since Ella's actual birthday fell onto a weekday this year, we had a few surprises for her outside of her party.  She woke up to our traditional birthday table with all of her presents and the breakfast of her choice: icecream.  The outfit she decided to wear for her special day was a birthday gift from her birth family, handmade by her Armenian mother.

In the evening, we left Emilia and Rex with a trusted sitter and took Ella to a movie, her first ever in a theater.  We saw Pete's Dragon which was really a perfect selection for experiencing the sensory impact of a big screen for the first time.  The movie theater we chose has big comfy recliners and serves dinner right there while you watch the movie, so Ella had pizza, fries and a strawberry lemonade icee and Craig and I had wraps.

Ella, now you're eight.

Daddy and I look at pictures from just two years ago

and cannot believe how much you have grown and learned and matured.

You're a most stubborn, competitive, argumentative little girl,

strong, determined and fierce and not afraid to speak your mind.

You're a thrill seeker and adventurer, a worrier, a chatterbox,

and a prankster who lives for anything outside of the daily routine.

Debate team, drama club and swim meets are in your future.

We love you just the way you are.

You’re our treasure and our joy.
Happy birthday!