Lydia was flipping through a grocery store catalog that came in the mail a few weeks ago. It was filled with platters and prepared goodies you could order for entertaining over the holidays. She came to a page featuring a four-layer chocolate cake with pink frosting and topped with ganache and peppermint candies.
"I want THAT one!" she exclaimed.
She doesn't ask for much. She's a pretty low-demand kid who has grinded through this Covid year with only a few meltdowns. A twelve-year-old should celebrate her birthday with friends, and that wasn't going to happen.
But cake I can do.
On her birthday, which was the Saturday after Thanksgiving, our dear friend Bonnie stopped by to say "Hi" and drop off a gift.
Reggie and I went to the party store to pick out Lydia's birthday balloon and get gumballs for the cake. Lydia hates peppermint, but loves bubble gum! Lucky girl, bubble gum was 75% off, so she has enough gum to last a couple months.
Her other request was to have Red Lobster. She loves shrimp! Reggie got Lydia a purple t-shirt that says, "Once upon a time there was a girl who loved books and guinea pigs. It was me. The End." Brett got Lydia a set of oil paints. We got Lydia a piano - which we gave her back in October.
We also tried out an escape room in a box. Lydia likes puzzles and riddles, so she had fun with it. I put a little request out on Facebook and Lydia got a few extra cards and gifts in the mail that brought her some birthday cheer!
Lydia loves art and music! She is taking a virtual art class through community education and piano lessons through outschool. She is also rocking a 4.0 in school. She loves to play Roblox with her cousin. This is a very weird first year of middle school. I'm partly thankful she is getting a pass on the social drama of 6th grade, and at the same time curious to see how it will play out in 7th grade. She has always been very sure of who she is, independent, and content with cozy clothes and a good book. I'm still waiting for the horrors of tweendom to show up, and won't be disappointed if we bi-pass it. I am very proud of who she is and who is is becoming!
Happy birthday, Lydia! Playing the piano and reading were two of my favorite things to do when I was her age, although we had cats not guinea pigs when I was a child. :) Nadia is getting an escape room in a box for Christmas. It will be our first experience with one. Congrats on the 4.0! And kudos to you on that cake. I couldn't make a cake as fancy as that one. Way to go!!!
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