Happy Happy Birthday Katie Dear!

Well, I hope that you don't mind, Kate...but Mom has hijacked your blog to wish you a Happy Birthday! I cannot believe that 11 years has flown by so quickly... but here you are...on your way to becoming a "tiny" teenager.

This February 24th started out, like every birthday morning, with the traditional Grasteit song "Today is Katie's birthday, wake her up, wake her up!" Repeated over and over again. I know we should come up with some better lyrics, but I think the kids might be disappointed if we did. They so look forward to it. Then, Taylor made banana pancakes for breakfast and we were off to school, with cupcakes in hand. Tonight Kate has ordered pasta with shrimp, asparagus and mushrooms, for dinner, and crepes with strawberries and cream for dessert. (Not a traditional birthday cake...but better, maybe.) The rest of us will have chocolate drizzled over them as well, but Kate doesn't like chocolate. (She doesn't know what she is missing.) And we will have presents, too, of course. I will be off to finish shopping, as soon as this is done.

Although I am not a blogger, I have seen enough cute blogs to make an attempt at a little birthday tribute. So here we go...

K is for Kind. I don't think I have ever seen her be unkind to anyone...except maybe her siblings, occasionally, but that doesn't count!
A is for Avid Reader. Kate is always reading....early in the morning...late at night...in the car. We cannot get her to stop!
T is for Talk, Talk, Talk...another thing we can't get her to stop doing!
E is for Example, which she is to everyone around her, especially her family.

Kate, I think I got the best present of all, on your birthday...YOU! I am so lucky to get to be your mother. I love you and hope you have a wonderful day!