My firstborn, my baby, is now, officially a teenager. I am simultaneously happy and sad. It was really important to us though to make sure she had a special day, despite the slightly chaotic circumstances of our move. Jeff had to go to work, but before he left, he helped me string up the happy birthday banner, so that it was the first thing that Vivi saw when she came out of her room in the morning. I also presented her with the birthday crown.
Grandpa and Grandma Goerss had mailed her a birthday card well before we left Virginia, and I had carried it with us to Malaysia, so that she had something special to open on her birthday morning.
Of course the main birthday activity was going to the pool.
Her birthday was also the day that the entire family discovered that we LOVE the apple juice at Raft.
We had gotten one for Elena on the first day, but this is no ordinary apple juice. They have a juicer machine, so the owner takes a green apple, cuts it into manageable pieces, and then just puts it through the juicer with a little water. This is basically an apple with some water, and it is delicious! They have other fruit juices too, so we may branch out at some point, but for now we're into the apple juice. I especially love the green color, but drink it fast or it will turn brown!
When we got back from our pool time, we discovered that the hotel had left a birthday gift for Vivian, a note and some donuts.
It was a really nice surprise. There were two donuts, and, being the awesome sister she is, Viv shared with Elena.
We had some time to clean up and relax before Jeff came home, and then it was time for the main birthday event. Marvel very thoughtfully scheduled the release of the Black Widow movie for Vivian's birthday, so it was the perfect birthday present for a lifelong Black Widow fan.
Since it was Vivi's day, our special movie time snacks were some of her favorites, prosciutto and melon.
For dinner, I made shells and peas from boxes I had carried with us from the States.
I don't have all the baking equipment for a full on cake or cupcakes, and it's just the four of us, so I got her a frozen apple crumble that could be warmed up in the oven. It was a hit.
The birthday fun continued the next day, because our social sponsor really wanted to do something to help celebrate. First we met her and her kids at the pool for some swimming fun, and then we went to their house, so that the kids could play more, and I could do laundry with machines that separated the washing and drying functions. Because she is such an awesome social sponsor, she also took Vivian to a local bakery where they picked out a bunch of treats to share for dessert. The finished platter was impressive.
Vivian's favorite was the nutella banana tart. Elena liked the chocolate tart, and I loved the peach pastry creation. The best part of the evening though was after dinner when the kids all hopped on scooters, a balance bike, and a wiggle car and were zooming back and forth the length of the apartment. Vivian asked for a turn on the wiggle car, and proceeded to wiggle and giggle for at least half an hour with all the little kids.
At the end of the evening, she said she had been worried that she was going to be bored, because the other kids were younger than her, but that this was one of the best times she's had in the past two years. I am so glad that she had a fun birthday, and I love so much that her happiness comes from the simple pleasures of zooming around with other kids. She may officially be a teenager now, but she's still the little girl I love.
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