Sarah is 12!

As promised, we returned to Cafe Sprüngli on Sarah’s actual birthday for breakfast.  Unfortunately Alexandra was not able to accompany us, as I had agreed to watch a girl from her Kindergarten that same day, and they needed to stay home and play together.  But we did have an exciting visitor, cousin Maddie came to stay with us for a week!

Alexandra was less sad about missing out on the cafe when the girls told her I had forgotten the way back to the car, and we ended up lost and having to call Papa to help us figure out where we were, and how to get to where we wanted to go.  But before all that we had a nice visit to the English bookstore where Sarah got to pick out several new books for her birthday.

Later that afternoon, we went down to the jewelry store so Sarah could get her ears pierced.  Months before her birthday she had told me she wanted to get it done.  Then about 2 weeks before the big day, she got cold feet.  But she changed her mind AGAIN and decided that yes, she wanted her ears pierced.  Until we walked in the store and she started shaking from nerves, and saying that maybe she didn’t want to.  I admit, I nudged her very strongly to just get them done.  I stood right next to her and held her hand while the first earring was put in.  Then the real tears came and she didn’t want to do the second ear.

The lady was very kind and understanding, and went to get her a chair to sit in so she could calm herself a bit.  I rubbed her back and helped her take some deep breaths til Sarah said she was ready for the second earring.  She didn’t want me to take any pictures, it was stressful enough as it was, so I honored her request.  But here is one from later on.

That evening we opened presents.  She had already gotten the books from the bookstore and the earrings, but her siblings and Maddie had a few things for her.

Sophie knew Sarah was going to get her ears pierced, so she made her a pair of earrings using a Shrinky Dink Jewelry kit I had bought for her.

I did have one more special gift for Sarah.  12 is a special birthday and I wanted to commemorate it even more than we already had.  Sarah and I share the same birthstone, so for her special present I gave her the ruby heart ring I had bought myself with one of my first paychecks from my job at the law office, years and years ago.  She was very surprised and happy.

Finally it was cake time!  I was certain I had bought candles in preparation for birthday season, but I couldn’t remember the “safe place” I had put them when I needed to.  So we improvised. 🙂And now she is old enough to join me in Young Women’s  Congratulations, Sarah!