We picked up the hotdogs, buns and cake around noon. It was a wet ride in the dinghy back to the boat with Lily holding the boxed cake in her lap as we bumped across the water. Once back on land, we performed a little cake surgery in order to remove an unwanted princess from the birthday cake and replace it with a gigantic cookie. It looked great once we got done.
We started the birthday fun at 4:30 with a bird cage craft. Lily and I had made pretty little paper bird cages for Will and Molly. We spent about an hour coloring and cutting our birds for the cages and adding embellishments to the top. Actually, Will opted for a caged dragon and he was suitably fearsome once completed. Molly’s little birdie was promptly named “Larry” and she walked by him a couple of times over the course of the night and sang out “Hello Little Larry”.
Tracy glamming up Molly and Lily’s fingernails with glitter polish.
After craft time, the kids headed to the open field for some kite flying. We had just enough wind to complicate our crafting session but too little wind for proper kite flying. They managed to get them in the air just a bit.
Erica is giving Will some kite-flying tips.
We finally got the hamburgers on the grill and had them almost ready when we realized we had forgotten the hotdogs for the kids. We slapped them on the grill hurriedly as the kids played a little longer. We took them off the grill nice and blackened and served them all up. The kids then informed us that their hotdogs didn’t taste right. There was a thin plastic sheathing on the outside that was quite inedible. It pulls right off when the dogs are uncooked or boiled but the grill had sort of melted them to the meat. We managed to peel three hotdogs and threw the rest away.
A little finger protection allows you to control the kite dives better.
The cake saved the day. Nightfall had descended and we pawed through our craft basket blindly for our candles. Once located, it took me several minutes to get them on the cake and lit in the breezy night. We sang a rushed “Happy Birthday” as the candlelight flickered weakly. The wind took a few out and Lily finished the job. We cut it in large chunks and enjoyed. Happy Birthday to our sweet, smart, beautiful ten-year-old. It is hard to believe she is growing so fast. We are so glad to have had such wonderful birthday company: Scott, Tracy, Will and Molly from Yollata, Maya and Phil and Erika. Thank you for all the birthday wishes from back home!! We love and miss you and can’t wait to see you in just a few weeks.
Opening a lovely present of a handmade necklace made by Maya.
Loads of art supplies and paper fun from Will and Molly plus a drawstring bag for carrying around.
Lily, we are so glad you had a great birthday. I love your braids, they look great.
Thank you! Can’t wait to see you! !!