the birthday continues

It's hard to plan a birthday for a seven year old in these Covid years. But it's not impossible. You can keep to reasonable mitigation protocols, even if you live up north and (unless you're a polar bear) outdoor celebrations are not an option. You can make it as safe as a day in school. Masks, distancing when possible, good ventilation. Vaccinated kids, vaccinated parents. 

Today Snowdrop finally has a birthday party. Most of the girls from her class came. There was a theme -- of self care, of relaxation, of a bit of fun. There are party people out there that will bring in props that you can borrow and use in the safety of your own home. In my eyes, it was a party of release and pent up exuberance.

All this in the afternoon of course.

Breakfast comes first for me. Always. It's the weekend of the last sweet bread slices!

 

And no, there's no skiing for Ed and me. Not today. Shortly after lunch I go to my daughter's house to see if anyone needed help with the set up.

Oh! everything is ready!

 

 

(Sparrow is impressed)

(There's a place to relax your skin, relax your toes and feet, and to finish things off -- string some tiny beads and take a bracelet home. Snowdrop checks things out before her guests arrive.)

Guests arrive. The excitement is palpable. Here's one guest you know very well, who is pretty excited about being included.

Of course, there is also the more traditional part: of cupcakes and fruits, of candles and wishes.

What struck me throughout is how much pent up joy these girls had. Of being on this weekend afternoon with school friends, of dancing (oh, how they danced!), of having lived through these strange times, where school and life required such hugely unusual adaptations. And yet, they got through it and now finally, maybe maybe they can safely play together again. 

Two years, ripped from their young lives, but maybe not totally ripped, because I would bet anything that they feel stronger and closer to each other for having gone through this very messy period together, well, sometimes remotely and always with all these mitigation measures, but together nonetheless.

And Sandpiper? He slept through most everything!