Family Mellmann

Yes, I know. This post is a little late. Katherine has been enjoying her life as an eleven year old for a few weeks now, but I'm just now getting around to processing pictures from the camera. Our birthday routine includes a birthday meal of the honoree's choice. Katherine, who has been looking forward to this day since her last birthday, chose Koto's Japanese Steakhouse...like she does every year.  We sit around the hibachi grill and watch as the chef artfully cooks up our dinners.  Then we go home to have cake, and open presents. With age comes some maturity for Katherine. She has observed that she doesn't do well in larger groups, and prefers small personal gatherings over large chaotic ones.  Based on this introspective observation, she decided to trade in her annual birthday party with lots of friends for a sleepover with two close friends.  It was a wise choice, and one that she enjoyed immensely. Here are some of the highlights of our family birthday...

Chocolate cake...and popcorn!  They couldn't decide which they wanted to eat first, so they had both. In the morning, they were up bright and early playing Lego Friends. Katherine celebrated her birthday with friends by hosting a small sleepover rather than a party with lots of kids. At the beginning of October, when we were planning these events, she astutely observed about herself that large groups make her uncomfortable and grumpy, and that she would prefer to have more time with fewer people; people she really enjoys being with. She was right. The girls played nicely after school on Friday, into the evening, and even through the morning. Once everyone left, she crashed for a little solo time in her room.