to complete a year

In Spanish the word for birthday is made of the two words "to complete" and "year"-- literally your birthday is the completion of another year of your life. I'm realizing though, it's more than just a year of your life, it's a year of life for anyone who is part of your life. 

My Grapes turned 11 this last week. Eleven years of her life are finished: milestones passed and landmarks reached. Her journey to become the Grapes she was meant to be is fully underway.

But 11 years ago was also when I became a Momma; when we became a family, rather than a couple; and when life as we once knew it became a memory.  Things have changed in so many ways, and it has been both a blink of the eye and an eternity to reach this point. 

We celebrated (twice!)

First with family

and key lime pie after a dinner of pupusas and broccoli salad

Then again a few days later with friends!

 The spa theme was a huge hit.
We did facials and fingernails, all while gabbing and giggling like 5th grade girls are wont to do.

They played games and watched a movie- they jumped on the trampoiline and hid and sought ALL afternoon. There were also an inordinate amount of selfies-- after all, Grapes got a camera for her birthday from her mom and dad.

  It was a whirlwind of silly girls and I'm so glad we did it.
Let's party again..... when Grapes is 20. It'll take me that long to recover. (just kidding!)
Thanks T, S, C, S and M for coming!!