Happy, Happy Birthday, Emilie Dear!

Emilie's birthday celebrations began several weeks ago with cards from grandparents, aunts and uncles appearing in the mail, brightening Emilie's days leading up to her 11th birthday. Emilie's first official celebration was last Friday. With my parents in town to celebrate with us, we planned a scavenger hunt party for 15 of Emilie's friends. We picked up the girls from school and met for a quick after school snack at a near by field during which I gave the girls directions and rules for their adventure. 

The girls were given 15 clues, assigned to a car and driver, and told that they must return to our house at 5:00 pm, with as many creative photos of themselves in front of locations scattered around Sudbury. They received points for accuracy, speed and creativity. The girls gobbled their cookies, jumped in the cars and raced off, solving riddles as they went. 

"Standing in a row, one, two, three;

these stone slabs are as old as old can be."

"I like you and you like me.

Friends together, here we'll be."

"A fellow they say, was this grieving poor man;

along an old path, this is where he once stayed.

Lucky for us, his tale is here to read 

and if you work hard, I'm sure you'll succeed."

"It's bubbles for babies, but laps it is for ladies."

"The stars, the moon, the galaxy;

Are they really so far for you and me?"

"Bring your canoe, we'll paddle along.

Some say I'm a road, but this time they are wrong."

(Willis Lake which shares a name with Willis Road)

"Within these walls a rule was broken.

Now children sing a song in memory and token."

(Mary Had a Little Lamb School House)

Each of the four teams made it back home just in time, qualifying them to win one of four awards. The team that won the award for solving the most riddles received Extra gum for being extra smart detectives. The team that won the award for the most creative photos was given Starburst for being a burst of fun. The girls who visited the most locations were presented with Skittles since they "skittle scattled", and the overall most correct team received Score candy bars. While they ate pizza, cake and ice cream, a slide show of the event played on the TV to some of Emilie's favorite music.  Sandy, a friend of mine and one of the designated drivers, mentioned that she wasn't sure who had more fun, the girls or herself! Much to my relief, the afternoon was a success.

On March 31st, Emilie celebrated her actual birthday. Thanks to a house full of brothers and sisters, the day felt like another party. Emilie requested German pancakes and a smoothie for breakfast, which we all enjoyed around the table while we each gave Emilie a birthday wish for the day. (These ranged from a wish that her piano lessons would be canceled to a wish that her art time in class would be doubled.)

 Jonathan instigated having the entire bus sing Happy Birthday on the way to school after which Emilie was able to wear the Happy Birthday pin in class and was presented with a small gift by her teacher. She ended the day with her favorite meal: clam chowder in bread bowls, apples with toffee dip, roasted pear salad and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Each family member shared their favorite memory of Emilie. We ended up spending the entire meal telling "Emilie stories". 

Emilie opened her presents which included earrings from Jonathan, a notepad from Annelise, a homemade card from Sophia, an IPod from Steve and me to replace the one that went through the wash in February, and many sweet cards and money for Emilie to set aside for her next treasure. I also gave her a charm for her bracelet that I give her each year. Ever since her fourth birthday, I have added charms based on what events are happening in her life. She has an artist's palette, a piano, a skier, a dancer, and now a soccer ball, to name a few. 

(Sophia proudly pointed out that she made the "O" in her name look like a hot tub! What goes on in her mind, I wonder!)

Each year Emilie looks forward to celebrating her birthday with Grandpa Ebert. What a great surprise it was to have Emilie arrive on Al's birthday. In Utah, Grandpa and Emilie shared their cake and their birthday song. Since we have moved, Emilie continues to look forward to sharing part of her birthday with Grandpa, always trying to beat Grandpa to be the first to make the birthday call! (This year she gave him a break since he was on vacation in California. Emilie was well into her math and reading at school before Grandpa was even awake on the West Coast, we assumed!) She has always loved sharing this special day with her Grandpa Ebert!