Annabelle is 10. . .

If you read all the posts, you’ll see I have been a little bit on creativity overload. . . part of the way I handle stress is to dive deep into making or creating something fun or beautiful, into building islands of memory for the girls in the waves.

And this year holds two milestones. My youngest is 10. . .and my oldest will be 13 in a few short days.

This year, Belle wanted a mermaid party with the girls in her class and the class below and above, so we made paper garlands and Stephanie made a ridiculously cool cake, and Belle made the number 10 out of punched circles and mermaid bingo with spray painted shells from a long ago trip to the coast. I made mermaid fudge,and we saved the goldfish from a care package and found blue popcorn next to the chips in Nairobi. I pulled out supplies  from Madeline’s ocean party 4 years ago when we arrived, and Brittney brought back color changing sequin slap bracelets after a quick trip back for a wedding.

It seems like yesterday she was born. Before we knew it,she was 5, and I know that from here on time will only go faster and faster.  So here’s to a decade of Annabelle Shirk, with all of her creativity, determination, enthusiasm, and joy.

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