We celebrated Clara’s 5th birthday this month. We started on March 1st with Clara’s countdown calendar, which included small gifts, an afternoon at a pool with slides, treats, a movie, and more. On Clara’s birthday eve we gave her a birthday dress, and we all watched the original Parent Trap.
Clara wanted to invite Uncle JD and Aunt Kim to her birthday Saturday, so they came for a hotdog, mac & cheese, baked beans, and veggie lunch. Clara designed her own cake this year. She is the first child to ever request a haystack included on her cake. After lunch we did gifts.
Clara’s big present from us was a new bike. We usually give our kids their first bike when they turn 3, but since we were in the States that year, we didn’t. The bike is a little big, but it’s sturdy and should last her for many years. We put it outside Clara’s bedroom door so she saw it in the morning when she woke up. She was pretty excited!
We very thankful for the ways we’ve seen Clara grow this past year. She’s doing well with learning how to read and is working on her math. I’m amazed at her range of expression when she reads stories. She’s become a better helper. She’s growing in self control. A year ago at this time, going to church was still exhausting for me, since Clara still needed a lot of attention. She now is able to attend the children’s classes and participate without any help. We are very encouraged at the Lord’s working in her life.
We’re very thankful for our Clara and the ways she’s growing up. She’s a vibrant little girl full of energy and life. Happy Birthday, Clara!
