Eight!

Clara looks a bit scrunched in this picture, but she was born beautiful, I swear.
Eight years ago.
We stared at her all day long for months.

Here she is now. Not scrunched at all. We don't stare quite as much as we used to, but she is even more fascinating these days.
Among the many things to love about Clara, these are some of the most Clara-esque:

• She has a sly sense of humor, and knows when her wit is over Trevi's head.
• She is Rain Man when it comes to remembering the most minute detail about anything that ever happened.
• She's all about reading.
• She has bizarre, yet effective, organizational techniques.
• She sings through her nose when she's trying to be Hannah Montana.
• She has never met a topic that couldn't be debated.
• She has a mental calendar that never fails.
• She writes snail mail letters to people all the time, and mails them right away.
• She is always the first one up in the morning.
• She tucks her soccer jersey in, and pulls her shorts way up, Pee Wee Herman style.
• She smiles when Trevi says something cute.
• She cries when sad things happen to the characters in books or movies.
• Her dance routines always involve props like couch cushions and tennis racquets.
• Her friends always talk about how funny she is.
• Her teachers rave about how hardworking she is.
• She takes pride in a tidy room.
• Persistence is her middle name. (Her other middle names are Honeybun and Monkey Girl.)
• She is full of imagination, sweetness, intelligence, curiosity, and joy.
• She is like no one else in the world. Our Clara.


The highly professional cake, by the way, was lovingly made by Trevor.
And, in requesting to make the cake, he had only his sister's happiness in mind. No alterior motives.
Other than licking the bowl, that is.

We had a mini shindig at home, complete with the aforementioned cake, and a hideous, birthday-themed ice cream called "Take the Cake", chosen by (who else?) Trevor. The ice cream was yellow-cake flavored, swirled with blue frosting and laced with sprinkles. 50 kinds of yuck.

On the non-yucky end of things, we had special folks to join in the festivities. Grammy and Grampy brought Tyra and Amani, which made for some happy kids.

I was bound and determined to get a nice Grammy and Grampy pic. I think this one fits the bill.
Happy Birthday, Clara! We love you, and we love watching you grow. But don't grow up too fast!