Our church does a fifth grade girls getaway at the beach each summer and Naomi's birthday just happened to fall smack dab in the middle of it on the year she was the right age to go. This was the first year that one of our kids was out of town on their birthday and she couldn't have been happier about it. We planned on celebrating when she got home, but slipped an envelope filled with simple birthday greetings into her suitcase on her way out the door and marked it to be opened on her birthday.
Naomi had asked me months ago what the church did for kids whose birthday happened to be during this trip. I explained that it's not realistic for them to acknowledge all the birthdays that happen during church services or events and that it would just be an ordinary event where those who happened to be aware of the date may wish her a happy birthday. Curiosity satisfied, she headed off last week for some girl time that just happened to coincide with her birthday.
I was wrong. The gals who run this event went above and beyond the call of duty to acknowledge Naomi's birthday with ice cream cake for everyone to enjoy after their fancy dinner.
Wasn't that sweet of them?! Totally unnecessary and totally special, and sending texts to me with pictures of the birthday greetings from us and cake for the group was really thoughtful. Some of the girls also gave her little birthday gifts and notes, which was awesome.
Naomi had asked to go miniature golfing for her birthday celebration and we told her she should take two friends with her. So I loaded her, Grace, and Keira into the car for some celebrating after church two days after her birthday. Naomi opened her gifts from them in the Costco parking lot before we went in for samples and a gourmet meal of hot dogs.
Then it was time for miniature golfing. They smiled for the camera ...
... got silly for the camera ...
... and posed in front of part of the course.
Thanks to a generous employee, the girls were given a discount for golfing and an extra game. They played a few arcade games after golfing, then we headed out for ice cream..
Evidently it was major party mode because there was an absurd amount of sugar consumption. They'd all chosen Fun Dip as a prize after their arcade games, so there was a ton of giggling and dipping in the back seat.
Final stop, Cold Stone. Tasty ice cream and an extra punch on our punch card as a reward for actually remembering to bring the card with me. Another generous employee!
We did our family stuff that evening. We started off with her dinner of choice - honey lime chicken enchiladas, cheddar Ruffles, and watermelon - and then opened gifts from immediate and extended family.
We snapped a few quick pictures in the birthday outfit before the night was over.
Six days after her birthday she finally got her doughnut date with Tim.
It took almost a week, but we're officially done celebrating her birthday and she's enjoying the start of double digits.
Photo credit: The four pictures from the girls' getaway are from Susan Potts and Jen Maurice.
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