Yesterday, I took my neice Abby to our 2nd annual "no one else invited" birthday lunch at Mrs. Teapots. After picking out fashionably appropriate, color coordinated boas and hats, we had a wonderful time eating off of fine china -- PB&J and hot chocolate for the birthday girl. Abby was so impressed by the hot chocolate which was what she called "the real deal", served in a pretty tea cup, not a mug. She could just tell it was NOT the kind you get out of a packet and put in the microwave. We had a wonderful time, chatting the afternoon away, and she was thrilled that the place was all decorated for Christmas. She talked about how much she loves art, and how much she loves history and the 1800's. I told her I bet she likes watching Little House on the Prairie; but no, she's not into the farm stuff. She likes the fancy history better, like Boston life in the old days. And she talked, and talked, and talked. And she said she used to be shy, but she's not shy at all anymore. In fact, "I've been talking so much, I haven't even stopped to eat my chocolate cake, Aunt Joycie!" And I enjoyed every word; some day too soon, she'll be way too cool to talk to her old aunt.
I told her antique stores are all about history, so after lunch we walked through Bellevue scrounging through the antique and gifts shops. She'd never been in an antique store, and she truly loved just taking in all the "stuff" and she really did enjoy looking at the different pieces of art. We ended the day by coming back home and making the gingerbread for our gingerbread house. Even though she's been helping to decorate the house for many years, she actually got to MAKE the gingerbread. She helped mix the dough, then rolled it out, and cut out the pieces.
When the day was over, I realized that Abby has grown at least 4 years in the past year. How did that happen? She's already gone from standing on a kitchen chair to help me bake, to standing on a little stool. I will be so, so sad when she gets old enough to just stand there -- nothing needed to make her tall enough to help. Where did that little girl go who couldn't see over the counter? Even her apron is getting too small. I have to face it that she's quickly entering the adolescent stage. I hope and pray this sweet little girl doesn't get completely lost in that most horrible of passage to the teen years. Abby is a delight, and I just love that little girl. I'm so happy I've gotten to share these most precious years with her. Living up the street has just been a gift I'll always treasure.
