a golden birthday

Some sweet friends called you on your birthday today and told us about "golden birthdays"  (thank you Brooklyn!)  Your golden birthday is the year you turn the age of the day your birthday lands.  (She explained it better than that.)  Anyway---Kate's birthday is on the 7th and she turned 7!!!

We spent a quiet day with just our little family.  Those really are my favorite birthdays.  I know Kate's preferences lean more toward a grand production with a lot of friends and family, but she was a great sport!  We took her out to lunch (she had a hard time deciding between Chipotle and Jamba Juice, lucky for me they are next door to each other!).  We made her birthday dinner (spaghetti with meatballs and salad).  We ate dinner outside on the deck.  We found the prettiest cake at the bakery.  We played in the back yard.  We finished the day with bike rides and frisbee at the park. 

Kate,

For this birthday you REALLY wanted a cello.  

You are taking such good care of it.  

You have begun lessons...and you beg to practice everyday.  

Your teacher asks you to sing a song as part of your practice-

I love my cello very much.  

I play it everyday.  

I love to watch the spinning strings as my hands fly away. 

We gave you a book today called the Strawberry Girl. 

It reminds us of you...because you are sweet---

and when you were a toddler, 

we couldn't get any strawberries to ripen in the garden because you loved to pick them 

(and eat them as soon, and as green, as you saw them.)

We love the young lady you are becoming.

We will love you forever.

Could you please grow up a little less quickly---

You look too grown up today!

Love you~