Two days later it was Nolan's birthday and we always celebrate Vanessa & Nolan's bday together with my parents and cousins so once again more cake & ice cream and presents...
Finally to end the week of celebration off Vanessa invited a handful of her school and home friends to play Laser tag with her. A great way to cap off her 9th birthday.
This past year has been a busy one for Vanessa doing to gymnastics 6 hours a week and tutoring once a week. She has made many new friends at school and in our neighbourhood. She is such a social friendly girl and has no trouble jumping into new situations and group activities. I love her confidence and assertiveness and hope she is able to maintain that as she's getting older. I'm being reminded regularly how tough it is to be a 9 year old girl - she feels the need to keep up with fashion trends already, is already pointing out that she thinks some outfits make her look fat... So far she seems to be keeping a level head about it but I know it is only going to get harder for her. This is where I'm really hoping her confidence takes over. Right now she is a girl that knows what she wants and isn't afraid to ask for it or just go and get it herself. I encourage that whole heartedly.
She is continuing with her gymnastics training all summer as well as going to different sports & adventure camps with Ty & Troy. She has developed a paralyzing fear of spiders and the dark and going to bed at night in general and Iain and I are becoming desperate for her to outgrow this phase. She seems to have her brothers sympathy though and they have been letting her sleep in their rooms lately without a fuss.
In a couple weeks Vanessa & I have our annual girls weekend when the boys go camping. We plan to go for pedicures and go into Toronto to shop and have dinner with Uncle Ry. Always such a nice time for us to spend on our own :) I look forward to it every year.
