4

A week ago N said something like, “Remember a long time ago when Christmas seemed so far away? And now it’s only five days away!”

While Christmas caroling for the neighbors and visiting a local church’s live enactment of Bethlehem and the nativity induced a turning inward for N (I think she was absorbed in observing her feelings in those moments), her fourth birthday celebration was another matter: she was elated from start all the way until her fiery finish.

As our church had moved our Sunday service to Christmas Eve, we had the whole day to celebrate:

The paper doll book from her grandparents occupied her for hours:

She already has used quite a few of the thank-you card kit cards:

She continues to thrill in the gifted hand-me-down underwear from her cousin, but the hair band was an immediate rush:

We packed a picnic for a hike in the mountains, something she’s been wanting to do for a while (except she wants snow at the same time):

More paper doll play:

And the cake: