Celtic Birthday

 These things I warmly wish for you:

 Someone to love....

Some work to do....

A bit o' sun....

 

A bit o'cheer....

And a guardian spirit

Always near.

                                                                    -Celtic Blessing

 Our Audrey turned twelve today, and even though we said no party, there was still a party.  I don't know how exactly she maneuvered that, other than to say that coming to us as she did,  on St. Patrick's Day, she must have at some point in her ethereal sojourn passed by the Blarney Stone and given it a big old smacker.

We had eight sweet friends come over for an at-home party.  We had an Irish fashion show, using only green tissue paper to create St. Patrick's Day fashion masterpieces.  Then they played a few rousing rounds of Mousetrap.   We had Cupcake Wars (think Cake Wars, only with cupcakes), presents, ice cream, two rounds of  a fun game called What's My Name and a present opening game.  Twelve I think, is the perfect age for a party.  Audrey planned the whole thing herself.  All I did was bake the cupcakes and buy a few favors.   The girls had a great time, and are old enough to mind their manners.  It was a lovely day.

Later on, Audrey and me used up all the leftover cake decorating supplies to create this birthday masterpiece.

Grandma and Grandpa came over  this evening for dinner and the present opening ritual.

Random shots of strung out siblings, high on birthday:

And now she is twelve.  Tomorrow she goes to Young Womens' for the very first time.  She is the proud owner of a cell phone.  Thinking about getting her ears pierced.  And just like that, it all begins.