Today you celebrate turning 8 years old.
As always, you have been looking forward to this date almost immediately after turning 7. I think it wasn't even Christmas when you started planning for your party. Will it be JoJo Siwa themed? Who will you invite? Do you keep it small or do you try and have as many friends as you possibly can. I kept telling you that you had plenty of time.
Then Covid-19 happened.
Shopping for your birthday presents has been very different this year. The bike shop was busting at the seams. I am guessing many families, like ourselves have started regularly riding as our form of family exercise. While I had to queue up to get into both Kmart and Target, something I have never done before, once you get inside it was actually quite pleasant to shop as they were not crowded at all.
I had been thinking about how to make your birthday as special as possible, given that you could no longer have the party you envisioned. While you did tell us that we can still have fun, even if it's just the four of us, as long as you can rule the day, I knew that we couldn't let the day pass without making it as special and memorable as possible.
Cue, let's host a Zoom birthday party for Eliza's Unisquad (your besties at school).
Once I got the buy in of the other Mum's, the creative juices started to flow. Each girl will receive a party bag and a cupcake so that they can all sing Happy Birthday together, blow a candle, and eat the cupcake. I asked Ninang (my sister-in-law) for some party game ideas and she suggested a Scavenger Hunt game, which we turned into a Treasure Show and Tell. While looking at the $2 dollar shop for party decorations and ideas, I thought it would be great each girl could write a message on a card for you which they can post back. I also scored some party props for added fun.
Needless to say, today's party will go down to be memorable. It was not quite the party that you were hoping for but who knew you can have a ton of fun with your friends despite being in lockdown? Oh Eliza, when you look back at these photos and this message, I hope you realise how much joy this virtual party has brought to your face. It was absolutely delightful to hear you guys laugh, sing Happy Birthday together and tell each other how much you miss each other. Even Noah made sure to join the party!
With your Zoom party, and lots of other video calls with family, my heart is bursting as I know that you still managed to have the best 8th birthday you can...and we still are yet to sing Happy Birthday to you as a family.
Cue Eliza's choice for dinner and cake, more cake!
Lots of love
Mum xox
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