A Decade of Elizabeth

 Just like that, fresh from our trip, Ellie turned ten. It seems totally unbelievable how fast the time has gone, especially in the last few years (first few years, maybe not as quick moving.) She is really such a delight, and we're all so lucky to have her. 

She had a few days of celebrating - on Sunday we went over to Mimi and Poppy's house, where Mimi recreated an American Girl luncheon for all of us. Ellie was thrilled to get a new doll, and since Julie is a doll from the 1970s, she let Tim hold her in a family picture. I am holding my 1990 Samantha doll, which Ellie tells me is creepy. She doesn't know. Samantha is wearing her originally "Happy Birthday Samantha" outfit, minus the ribbon crown, which Ellie informed me that the cat ate.

We had a lovely luncheon, including a giant donut cake (the 1 of which I repurposed, along with a giant snickerdoodle cookie, for her actual birthday. Waste not, want not!)

For her birthday, Tim and I got her a new Samsung tablet, since her old one is very old and not great. Now she has a fresh piece of technology to use to rot her brain, and play Minecraft with her friends!

Ugh, I can't believe how grown up she is. 

After school, for her birthday we headed to the beach

And finished our evening with pizza and cake in the back yard, with the families. I'm really glad that even during COVID times everyone was able to be together (while also doing our best to be socially distant and not super spreaders.) We even brought the disco ball out for our dance party!