She's 10!

Yali's feeling good apparently... doing “the worm” across my bed early that morning... “How're your teeth feeling today?” // **braces shine back in a big grin** “Good!”...

Patience is in the kitchen already celebrating her most-looked-forward-to day of her year... assisting Oxbear in mixing chocolate chip pancake batter... layered with whipped cream “from a can!” and chocolate syrup and candy sprinkles... “Were you thinking of the movie Elf when you asked for this?” Oxbear wants to know...

Puck walks out for gift opening with the large box of now ten Cinnamon Toast Crunch boxes... “Happy birthday!” he announces dropping the trove next to her... jaw drop for Patience...

After breakfast and all the girly gifts it's time to get those ears pierced... Sweet & Sassy in under ten minutes total... pink tourmaline birthstone studs... a quick labeling of both lobes and a punch-punch... “I know it's feeling a little spicy...” the friendly lady notes to her... certificate and sparkling birthday sash and Patience is most pleased most pleased indeed with the results...

Stop two is for a Target shopping spree with saved babysitting cash... a little Cat & Jack wardrobe upgrade in various shades of raspberry and cheetah prints and some press-on nails and a small armload of snacks later and the little lady is glowing... “Thank you for taking me!”

It's back home again for the afternoon and more kung fu and Dominos before toting a sack of donut holes to the studio to share with friends...

...tumbling unbroken storm of glowing pink-gold in the east... pop of pearl moon... and now we're all double digits in this goofy little clan of whatever exactly we are...