Double digits

Holy cow. I don't know how it has happened, but somehow, my baby has turned 10.  Ten!

 She had a great day.  It was Monday, so she spent most of it at school.  She did take treats for her class; which, bytheway, are very much NOT fun anymore.... The list of "you can't brings" is ten times longer than the list of "things you can bring".  I'm not even sure it's worth the effort.  I was 2 minutes late and missed the class singing to her, but oh well.  She enjoyed passing out treats.  Next year, I probably won't go, but she will still have a special day, I think.  Jon joined her for lunch at school that day and she loves that sort of thing. 

 When the kids came home from school, the waiting commenced.  Grandma and Grandpa were set to arrive that very afternoon and we couldn't wait!! It was a very long 2 hours, I assure you.  (Although, not nearly as long as their 17....).  Once they came, we pretty much immediately left and went to Red Robin for the birthday dinner.  Brooklyn's choice.  We passed on the singing and the ice cream, though.  We had a very special, Brooklyn-designed cake waiting at home.

 She wrote out the instructions and (I think) drew Jon a diagram.  It was pretty awesome and, as she said, looked like a smarties lollipop.  We broke out the trick candles one last time, and tricked them all!!  Good thing it was a pack of 10!

It was a very tasty cake and a very good change to share some with Grandma and Grandpa instead of having them watch us eat over Skype.  Brooklyn thoroughly enjoyed all the presents and attention and was set to spend her birthday money gifts right then.  She is such a good kid.  She still has quite a tender heart, but is very good at being bossy to others.  It is a balance we are working on.  She helps me around the house every time I ask and only complains a little when she has to help clean up a mess that's not hers.  She thinks she's ready to start babysitting and is proud as a peacock when she "babysits" Julianne and Mason.  She'd still rather come with us when we run quick errands than stay home most of the time, though.  She's our sweet baby girl and we love her to pieces.  Happy Birthday, Babe!