There will need to be a treasure hunt set up for her birthday (a few years back I had set up, what will be the first of many, treasure hunt on Raj's birthday. Both of them had read through the clues hidden in rhymes and found treasures hidden around the house. Now it was a main stay of birthdays for her).
Then, there needed to be a play date with her best buddy Rushil.
She also wanted to play with her neighborhood gang of friends.
In there, somewhere, there had to be a home baked chocolate cake and cake cutting.
Good thing her birthday was on a sunday and we had all weekend. 😉
We started the birthday weekend on friday evening with not only a playdate but a sleep over at Rushil's! We went over to theirs' early evening, spent the evening together, and little miss Haana stayed overnight for a sleepover. In the morning she helped her Ranjeeta aunty bake cookies, and i saw pictures of 2 happy kids having milk and cookies. At home that Saturday morning, i started setting up the treasure hunt. I had already gotten the "treasures" (just small little presents) a few weeks back. Now was the time to pack them, hide them and set up the clues. I had to hurriedly wrap it all up when she was dropped off back home.
Lunch was from her favorite Torchy's taco. But after lunch i took her out for a surprise.
I had been thinking of getting her a real sewing machine for sometime. She had a small baby sewing machine for sometime but it wasn't really a proper sewing machine at all. And little miss Haana always has ideas up her sleeve of what she wants to do, some craft project or the other. A sewing machine will be a great tool in her tool box, I thought. On the other hand, I have never done any sewing myself, and don't know my way around a sewing machine at all. She's just an 8 year old, I wouldn't really be able to guide her into learning to sew. But when I talked to a few friends of mine, I learnt there are tons of tutorials online. Youtube can her useful sometimes! My dear friend Kim gave the recommendation of the sewing machine, and I had been to the sewing store closeby to check it out. I decided I will come back with the birthday girl took make the final selection.
So, I took little miss Haana out on a drive with me for a "little surprise". Only when we came to the store did I tell her about my idea of buying her a sewing machine! We saw the 2 machines i had looked at before, and she choose the one she liked better. She was excited to get started! And i was too! I had to temper the excitement a little by reminding her, it will take us some timw to get up to speed. We will take baby steps in trying to learn how to sew. I was telling myself more than her. The sewing machines can be complicated!
Back home, we began setting up the machine right away, but looking at the instructions manual and learning to thread the needle was not as straight forward. Then we had the idea to look up youtube, and a good idea that was. She figured out how to thread the needle in no time. And soon we were in business.
The next morning was the big B day. The morning started early for me and Raj. While i was finishing up the clues and hiding the treasures, he started on the cake - all before the babies woke. Soon, we had the cake in the oven, the treasure hunt all set up, and i sat to have some morning chai.
Little miss Haana woke up and i gave her long long hugs and kisses to the birthday girl. And then gave her the booklet full of clues. Her eyes lit up - "Treasure Hunt!!", she squeeled with delight! I had the clues set up purposefully to have her rub around the house, upstairs then down the stairs, then in this room, then in that.. could it be in the laundry room? Could it be under the bed, in the bathroom cabinets? Inside the car?
I saved the best present for the last. Raj had gotten her a smart watch with which she can call us up if she's outside playing with her friends. I liked that it had parental controls, but we can also check on where she is. It was the most delightful presents of all!!
Meanwhile the cake was all done. We had 9 little candles, all lit up. Then, a big huff and puff, all the candles were blown out, a birthday song sung, and we were eating chocolate cake soon.
Later that day, we had aaloo paratha (wheat tortilla stuffed with potatoes and cooked with oil, eaten with a healthy heapof butter!) for brunch, also by popular demand. During the day, both grand parents called. Softy mausi called. Little miss Haana's Godfather Keith called to wish happy birthday.
In the evening, just before dinner, little miss Haana's Jinu aunty stopped by with more gifts! She got Enid Blyton set of books for miss Haana. I read those long long time back! It's funny how some books become symbolic of a certain time!
After dinner, little miss Haana's friends started showing up. I had pinged their parents to send the kids over for cupcakes outside by our garage. And they were here. Little miss Haana's Kirthi aunty and Karthik uncle and little Varam came up too. We all hung outside, with all the neighborhood kids, talking, enjoying cupcakes.
It was a good day and a great birthday. Now stay on 9 awhile little miss Haana!
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