My sweet girl turned eleven this February. She has maintained her impish personality since toddler-hood. Only now am I starting to see signs of big girl desires and attitudes creeping ever so slowly in. On the horizon adolescence looms, but right now she is still my girl who loves a practical joke, playing with the littles, and running through the park with her friends.
For her birthday, Grandpa Bruce brought up the cousins to play. Poor Collette struggled with a sore throat and general lethargy from an oncoming cold. She spent most of the time watching everyone else have a grand time playing. However, true to form, she held up admirably for she did not want anyone to know just how poorly she felt. After cake and presents, she fell exhausted into bed.
Two days later, on her official birthday, we had gravy for every meal- bacon gravy, chicken gravy, and beef gravy! Collette does love her gravy and it is amazing that one really can have gravy morning, noon, and evening. She also requested a nut-less gf carrot cake with cream cheese frosting (and no gravy.) I drew her annual birthday card and decorated the cake to complement. Those are dandelion birthday wishes around the rim of the cake. Collette wanted a surprise so I had a grand afternoon creating with frosting. She loved every bit of it and was so sweetly thankful. For presents, she received two Calico Critter play sets and stylish denim dress. She was a happy girl!
Collette Right Now
1. She smiles big and laughs unabashedly.
2. Caring for little ones is her specialty. Collette has a real gift when it comes to wrangling temperamental toddlers. Like the Mary Poppins, tears are forgotten, the room is cleaned, and everyone thinks they have just played a game when 'Lettie is in charge. Oh, she is such a gift to me and all her siblings!
3. She prefers to wear her ponytails and bangs swept to the side.
4. Fashionable clothes definitely intrigue her and shopping is something of which she'd like to do more.
5. She loves to set up elaborate worlds for the bunnies and raccoons from Calico Critters. The whole playroom floor is often transformed into a miniature wooded land.
6. She has the gift of organization which she uses sporadically. While she can carefully organize all the play food by type, color, and location, it is often easier to just shove it under the fridge.
7. She can have a fiery temper and strong sense of justice. This is tempered with her desire to keep peace even when it means self sacrifice.
8. Whole days can slide by while listening to books on tape.
Happy Birthday, my love
I don't know what I would do without you!
