Look Who's Eight

Celebrate early and often seems to have been the motto for Sophie's birthday this year.  Her grandma started things off with a homemade birthday cake two weeks before the big day, followed of course by presents.

No birthday down under would be complete without a visit to Trampoline.

One week prior to the big day, we enjoyed lunch at the Snooty Fox in the Dandenongs, a British style pub.  The food was superb, but we waited well over an hour for it, making a return visit rather doubtful.

In lieu of a "friend birthday party," which she would have preferred, Sophie chose to ride on the Puffing Billy.  It fully lived up to her expectations, and she even assured me at one point that she was the happiest girl in the whole wide world.

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Clear weather gave us a beautiful view of the Cardinia Reserve, one of Melbourne's primary water sources.

We spent an hour or so at the Lakeside Station with ice creams and Crimson Rosellas for entertainment.

Sunday was the official day.  We teased Sophie that she wasn't really turning eight until Monday, given that we are sixteen hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time, but she chose to stick with Sunday.  Her chocolate cake was devoured so quickly, I missed getting a picture of it.

Waiting for the big present:

I have to confess that this present was as much a gift for me as for Sophie.  She came up with the idea, but I quickly recognized that it would help organize all of the paraphanelia her American Girl dolls have collected over the past two years.  I am very grateful to my parents for transporting it here in a special suitcase. 

Sunday night we celebrated with a third cake, this time provided by the generous, thoughtful members of our church. It was a sweet ending to a beautiful day.

 

Comments

[janetjames]

Happy Belated birthday Sophie ! Three parties, and three cakes - it makes me hungry!

Cute pictures !

[Nikki]

Happy Birthday Sophie!

[Shanda]

I'm smiling....such sweet memories for Sophie's 8th birthday. She and my Davy are the same exact age now. :) My favorite pictures were: The one of Sophie and James hanging out the train window, the one of Sophie and Katie sitting together, the parrot pictures (esp. the vertical one), and the pic of the four kids on the bed. The American Girl trunk is beautiful!