Laine turns 9

There has been a battle brewing in our home for a good five months now.  The battle of Laine verses Dad. The subject of the battle- Will Laine turn nine. 

Like any father Christian hates seeing his little girls grow up he has tried to stop them from aging every time their birthdays roll around. He tries different sneaky tactics like forbidding them to get older, tries to get them to decrease their age when their birthday rolls around, or even just tells them they are a different age. Fortunately for the girls the tactics never work despite his best efforts. 

Laine was determined to turn nine this year, she even set it as one of her 2012 goals to persuade Dad to let her turn nine. 

Laine's birthday has come and gone and I am happy to report that Christian did allow her to turn nine this year and you haven't met a more helpful or happy nine year old. 

Laine not only got one birthday this year but two!  Christian and James were out of town on her actual birthday so on that day we had some special activities. Laine got her breakfast request of mom's scrambled eggs (they have more cheese than dad's), bacon, sausage, and toast.  She had a special chocolate frog in her lunch and then Grammy and Poppa took her to Olive Garden for her dinner where she got to choose her own special birthday treat. 

Then we had Laine's birthday: the sequel on Saturday.  This included shopping at Barnes and Noble with mom. We browsed all the titles and read the backs of many books. Then each of us took our birthday gift cards and took our new treasures home. Then we made a stop at Chic-a-Fila to pick up a Laine's birthday lunch for those still at home. 

That afternoon we had a party for the family where we had Laine's special request a chocolate cake, with a chocolate moose filling, a chocolate whip cream frosting, and chocolate dipped strawberries. 

 Then she got some fun presents. One of the best was having her Aunt Kate, who was in town for the weekend, come for the party.

Laine is a wonderful young lady. She is becoming more responsible and beautiful every day. She is an avid reader and writer who has aspirations to be an author. She is kind and helpful and the best of big sisters.  

So happy birthday Laine. You have won a great victory and now we start again to persuade dad to let you turn ten.