nine

Lily turned nine over the weekend. We enjoyed a festive couple of days. Pancakes and bacon for her birthday breakfast, theater popcorn (and a movie) for lunch, and pizza and glazed lemon poppy seed bread for her birthday dessert.

Last year, I was in bed with the flu for her birthday and we had to cancel all plans and enjoy a stack of Krispy Kreme donuts instead. So this year, we made the most of the birthday moments and had some friends over for a little crafting party and fun. The girls made felt hair barrettes and pom-pom seals from this book.

All but one gift from Brad and I were handmade by me this year. Her favorite (as you can tell from the pictures) was the Miss Maggie Rabbit, a pattern by Alicia Paulson. I also made her crocheted boot slippers and a crocheted hooded wolf cowl. We had also bought a cute little felted zippered case at a cute little shop not too far from home.

Mothers, hold fast to your little ones and breathe in those moments when they're yet babes. I remember yearning for the days that would be easier. The days that I would get more sleep and have more free time. And those days have come, and I do appreciate them, but my kids seem to be growing up so much more quickly than I thought they would. I'm afraid that with my next blink, they will be grown and heading off to live lives of their own.