Happy Birthday Tatum!

Today my oldest niece turns six years old. With a birthday two days before Christmas it's hard to get a present for her. Instead we try to take her someplace special and do something fun. Which is a treat all in itself when you have four other siblings. I mean, to go by yourself. That's probably the biggest treat.

This year Carla and I took her to see The Nutcracker Ballet. She saw it for the first time when she was three yrs old. But I think she enjoyed it much more now that she's a little older. Plus she's also taking ballet classes herself. So I think she got a kick out of seeing the really good, experienced dancers up there on stage. I was amazed at just how long the Sugar Plum Fairy stayed up on her pointy toe. Just watching it made my feet hurt. It was a beautiful, magical, mesmerizing performance. I love to see all the little girls in their pretty dresses coming to the ballet with their moms. I have visions of bringing Mia some day..... when she's old enough to sit still for two hours. LOL! Anyway, I digress.

Back to the point.... which is that today is the day to wish my obstinate, fiesty, beautiful, goofy, opinionated, talkative, very smart, hysterically funny, creative, curious, stubborn, sassy, demanding, some days a tomboy, some days a princess and very much loved niece a happy 6th birthday! I couldn't imagine life without her in it.