Ribbons Undone

I can’t believe my baby is in the double digits (sob)!

She was thrilled with her wake-up present. Honestly, I think she would have been happy with anything- she’s so easy to please and such a sweet girl).

she calls her Gertie (after my parent’s beloved dog whom she misses SO much)

Her birthdays always look Christmasy since it’s just a few days before Christmas.

party hats and favors (check out the ring pops shaped like Christmas lights)

Luckily, they still love the simple birthday cake I make them every year

Quinnie wanted another sleepover birthday party with her closest friends like last year

videos of the girls singing Christmas songs..

Kiera insisted on lighting the birthday candles

later that night we made hot chocolate with candy canes

one of Quinnie’s favorite gifts- a Wubble ball

cute birthday letters from her friends..

In the morning the girls made their own homemade waffles

they also decorated some gingerbread houses

Oddly, this is usually called a Hexenhaus (witch house) instead of a gingerbread house. Maybe because of the Hänsel and Gretel story?

Later that night after her friends left, we had our family birthday party for her, with Oma, Opa, Tante Ruth and Maxim. I made a 2nd birthday cake for her…

Quinnie, we can’t believe how grown up you’re becoming. We are so proud of who you are. You’re an amazing person with the kindest heart. We love you SO much and couldn’t ask for a better daughter. I hope your 10th year is magical!

We have a Christmas tradition of finding and cutting down our own Christmas Tree at this amazing place every year (and another post here)…

Lazy Papa tried to make the girls do it completely by themselves this year. They did pretty well, but he had to do the last bit..

it was COLD

I had a donkey hat very similar to this one when I was little. I LOVED it and wore it all the time. My brother and sister still make fun of me about it to this day. My brother-in-law bought this for me as a joke, but when Quinnie saw it she LOVED it and had to have it. A girl after my own heart 🙂

The Christmas trees here are a different kind than what most people buy in the States. They’re more spindly and bare (as you can see above). I prefer the ones in America.