I have a nine year old.

[altarflame]

Nine! How can this be?

Last night the two of us were sitting together at the bar, at Chili's, because the wait for tables was insane and we were trying to catch a movie with little time to spare. So there we sit, with a woman nearby exclaiming how she can't possibly be my daughter, how old is she and how old am I (flashbacks to my own childhood)? And the bartender asking what I'll be eating and then asking her what she'll be eating - and she ordered her own meal with sides? What? So he brings our virgin pina coladas, encrusted with sugar at the top, and I'm watching Ananda in her Dance Empire hoodie licking the sugar off the top and she asks me about Robbie's boyfriend. Because Robbie (my nephew on Grant's side, their cousin) has totally come out. And before I know it I'm telling her how refined my gaydar is, and how Grant and I were not the slightest bit surprised because we've always known, with him.

We went and saw Up, in 3D, after they came and sang to her and delivered molten chocolate cake...and it was great and we both loved it (and I cried at least 3 times - I really had no idea, that movie was fantastic). On the way home it's, "Hey turn on Pink, Mom". She's saving for an iPod? What?

Yeah, I'm confused.

Anyway, she wanted to have a tea party for this birthday. And obviously I have just the Alice in Wonderland supplies to comply.



I got that lace for $2 a yard at Jo-Ann's. Already scalloped along the sides. Aww yeah, baby.


About to start.


Ok, now, pay close attention, I want to point out some differences to you. THIS, is how big girls have a tea party.

(that's Annie, Christina and Grace)

THIS is how big boys have a tea party.

(Darien, with Aaron and Christopher hot on his heels just out of the frame)

And this is how little kids think it should go down.

(Isaac, Brian, Naja)

Although I have to say that before half an hour had passed, only adults were left at the table and all manner of children were running in and out of slamming french doors and squealing and shrieking and eventually sweating through their formal wear ;) They all had a blast.

My friend Kristin was here doing HENNA...there was an instant line.


Aaron wanted "the dark mark" (HP), and after some quick google image searching I think Kristin did a pretty impressive rendition.


While outside with some of the little ones, Grant took this picture of the tree across the street, and how it torments us. This is but a small portion of the tree. The entire thing looks like this, except the lowest branches that have been cleaned out by neighborhood kids

(lychees)

She wanted an ice cream cake.


With colored flame candles.




Her gifts were so cool this year.

Handmade owl from/by Kristin (shown)
lite brite
jewelry making kit
wooden box with painting supplies
Monster Book of Monsters
plush Hedwig (both HP)
two necklaces, one a cross and one filled with dried flowers
fairy ring
owl shirt (she likes owls :p)
GREAT dress from Aunt Laura
devotional journal (from a sweet mom who pulled me aside at the beginning of the party terrified because she'd heard from another kid that we might be Jewish...the funniest part of this is that we were standing by a large painting of Christ when she expressed these concerns, and within 10 feet of a fairly big cross)
and $40 cash, in the form of two twenties in cards from Oma and Nana and Pa, to go in the iPod fund

Nadia had to leave early, and this was hours in, so she is not pictured...

(Christina, Patrice, Grace, Tomara, Ananda)

Naja! And my cat! I swear she is magic (either of them, you pick)


Far later, when everyone had gone home, these guys were sitting and watching movies like zombies. My flash was the only light in the room.


And the next day, on the day, she went in the yard with Daddy.
This shirt she is wearing is one my sister wore as a teenager, and my mother wore in the 70s, and HER mother wore in the 60s.

(showing off her birthday henna....she needs you to see it)

Comments

[shechinah-el.livejournal.com]

Noting the song choice ;)

Nine!!! And I remember your post last year, "Eight!!!"

I'm amazed. You made and grew small people, and now you're growing a kind of almost big person! She's so gorgeous and smart and awesome, it's just crazy to me. I try to picture myself with a nine-year-old and it just baffles me, lol. What different lives we have...

I love all of you guys <333

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

The other song of the moment is Queen's "Under Pressure".

Yeah. I am feeling it all the time, that we've entered a sort of "next phase"....what with the youngest being two and me trying to make Aaron understand that although Grant is willing to help him do it while they're together, it just isn't safe for him to climb on the roof by himself.

We love you too <3

[neurotic-orchid.livejournal.com]

Awe, happy brithday, Ananda! She's just beautiful. She's growing up so well. You're a great mom. Lovely tea party!!

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

Thanks :)

[evrydayjnglbtch.livejournal.com]

b-a-n-a-n-a-s

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

Don't you come up in my journal getting that crapalicious hoohaw caught in my head, Crystal, DON'T YOU DO IT!!

[evrydayjnglbtch.livejournal.com]

too bad so sad. It's what came to my head so that's what you get. I mean we've been efriends since Isaac was months old. So since Ananda was FOUR. Shit is bananas.

You're doing a great job Tina. She's well-rounded and beautiful- what more could you ask for?

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

Yeah yeah yeah...I know :)

I actually spent a long time talking with her about how proud of how she's turning out I am. She has a sometimes startling lack of empathy that can really bother me...but OTHER than that, she is incredibly smart, funny, has great style, a real focus and passion for dancing, her own independant faith life, is WAY helpful of her own accord, and is just generally good company. And she is beautiful, too, yeah.

[theneolistickid.livejournal.com]

Sweet!

[seanclocks.livejournal.com]

Don't forget, the academic discount at Apple... 10% off...

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

I was not aware of that. I'll have to find out current exact rates, calculate that and let her know. She wants a Nano like I have. In green.

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

She is so beautiful.

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

I think so, too. I've been floored by it over and over, these past few days.

She's also a full 4 inches taller than Aaron now, which is really strange after all the years they were basically the exact same size.

[mylittlefriend.livejournal.com]

*de-lurks*

What an awesome kid. I just had to comment because she has the EXACT same build I had as a child (and still do. heh). And I used to wear long cut off jean shorts with frilly socks and black boy's Airwalks. So I'm digging her style for sure

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

Aww.

She makes a lot of the same choices I would have made at her age, without ANY guidance from me...it is uncanny how she's developed fascinations with tie-dye, Converse, peace signs, holes in her pants and writing all over herself at the same time I did as a kid.

She looks SO DIFFERENT from me as a child...there are features in our faces, like our chins, and her style is similar, but I was a brown kid with kinky black curl-frizz and a wide nose.

[medland.livejournal.com]

She's beautiful. I love her hat. The tea party really looks fun. :)

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

She is all about that hat. I actually tried to sway her towards one that, you know, FIT...but it had to be this one.

[moobabe.livejournal.com]

She's lovely, and it looks like she had a wonderful party. :)

Also, I have heard about people getting kind of blindsided by crying at Up, and--as I have been known to cry at coffee commercials--I'm thinking about giving it a pass. My daughter now knows to keep an ear out for "sad violin music" and then look to see if I'm crying. ;)

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

Lol, awesome :p

I was definitely blindsided, I mean, I was crying like 20 minutes in. BUT...it was mostly good stuff. I would say go for it.

[(Anonymous)]

aww. that looks like one rockin' birthday party. she looks soo happy!! i can understand why people think you can't have a nine year old, or five kids for that matter! hehe. i always had the young mom and it was always an advantage since my friends thought she was so cool. i don't think my teenage brother and sister can say that nowadays. ;)

also, never got a chance to say thanks for the key west recommendations. we had such a blast trying out some of the things you suggested! i was bummed that when i made it to the leather sandal shop it was closed. boo! thanks again!

[methebee.livejournal.com]

that previous anon response was me. sorry! heh.

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

So glad it worked out for you! If you're ever going back for a longer period of time or with a GPS my Dad knows every hole in the wall eatery of every ethnicity and quality - for instance he told me the best thai food is on a boat, and this little old lady cooks it, and they're docked at such and such marina ;) The only problem is he tries to give me directions to everywhere based on FORMER landmarks (Go down to where the old pharmacy used to be, then turn and keep on until you see the spot where Willie lived before, and then just before the gas station they tore down...)

[methebee.livejournal.com]

i will definitely let you know. we had a gps but didn't drive around much except in search of coffee (we are complete new englanders ;p), which i drank even though i don't like coffee. heh. dads are so sweet and helpful. gotta love it. i usually end up yes'ing my dad a lot when it comes to directions because he gets into such finite details (good intentions!). mmm for thai food on a boat. that would have been an awesome experience! thanks again soo much! :D

ps. good luck finding out all the details for annie's stuff today!

[wanderinganima.livejournal.com]

Ananda is beautiful ...this post almost made me cry LOL ( almost everything does these days )
I love the Alice tea wear and later this month my BF's daughter(her name is Erin but is called Alice ha ha ha ) will be turning 18 and we found the very same tea pot and sugar/cream along with a couple of trays for her birthday it's so cool !
and in 1 week from now I am going westward...to British Columbia to visit my grandkids and my kids...
oh how life seems to fly by ...
have a great day !

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

I got it all on ebay, where you can find some great deals on sets...they don't sell it in very many brick and mortar stores anymore.

:)

[babyslime.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday Annie. :)

[emfish.livejournal.com]

Wow,Happy Birthday Annie! What a beautiful girl! She is stunning in the picture of her opening gifts. You are doing such a good job with her!