Is it possible that my wee sweet baby girl is really TEN? Yes. She is. Whenever our children have birthdays, I think all mommies reflect on the past years and say aloud (sometimes often), “but she was just born!” I definitely feel that way. I remember oh so clearly meeting Claire Margot for the first time on that summery morning ten years ago. I knew immediately that the world became a happier place because she was in it!
Giggly, independent, and creative, Claire has always been my dreamy artist and the one who can’t resist mud or bugs. Here are few photos of little Claire . . .
. . . and mid-sized Claire . . .
. . and the growing girl Claire who still loves animals, art, and mud just like she did as a little one . .
On Saturday, we held her birthday party with just a few friends this year. It was a sort of pool-pampering-pony sleepover party. Phew! The girls started off swimming, then I treated them to a “pamper hour” complete with facials, a rose petal foot soak, and a pedicure!
The girls had a choice between a chocolate-oatmeal facial and a banana-papaya facial. I found the recipes for the facials, the foot soak, and a grapefruit hand scrub in the beautiful and inspiring book Naturally Fun Parties for Kids by Annie Daulter.
The girls had a blast and so did I! I love this image of Claire’s friend eating her cucumber on the far right and one brother pondering the whole ordeal on the far left!
I hear that the scary years are coming, when Claire will become cranky, opinionated, and rude. I hope it doesn’t become too thorny, but I can handle it. I’ll keep a supply of nail polish on hand for emergencies. 🙂