Getting Older...

Bet you thought I was talking about myself, didn't you--but wrong, I was talking about my eldest daughter, Paige who turned "6" on the first of August--I after all have stopped having birthdays. Guess I should've titled it "Growng Up". I can't believe it sometimes, but then I'll look at her and she is definitely looking older and am proud to say acting a bit more mature as well. We no longer have to argue over hair and clothes--guess she finally figured out that it was pointless, because Mom always wins. But truly I'm seeing her really develop in such a nice way,so helpful and so loving.

Paige had a big year this past year--beginning Kindergarten in the US, then moving to Berlin and finishing up her school year in an outstanding school, where she did very well, and really enjoyed it. Now she is getting ready for Year 1. She's very excited about this year, knowing all of the kids in her class (as they stay together from the beginning here). Year 1 is a big deal in Germany. There is a big party on the first day of school for them and they are showered with all kinds of sweets and gifts. Every person you know is invited to come (Grandparents, neighbors, siblings, friends, etc.) I think it will be really fun for them, as most of them don't know about it--it's a big surprise!

After the school year starts then I am faced with birthday party, part II. On her actual birthday, I let Paige have her very first real sleepover with 3 other little girls(all American Embassy girls--their dads work with Craig) besides she and Claudia. They had a great time having all the junk food you could imagine(I had to make a special trip to the Embassy store to find that kind of stuff!) They did make-overs on each other, painted nails, did each others hair, danced to Hannah Montana, and finally made a fun palette in the floor to watch High School Musical on the projector, so it was like they were at the movies. They had a ball!!
All of her school chums were "on Holiday" in other countries--and I couldn't bear to let her special day go by without something so I told her we'd do one with our Embassy girls and another one with her school friends once the new year started. You can imagine there were no complaints from her!

For now, I'm enjoying having the girls at home with me before the whole school rat race starts again (Aug. 28th for Claudia and Sept. 1st for Paige). Both Claudia and Paige started tennis lessons this week and are going to take swimming lessons for the last couple of weeks before school starts. Between that and a few trips around in the city and maybe a weekend trip close by, we are going to end our summer with a bang! I'll update again soon and let everyone know all about the first days of school.