Christmas Notebook

It was quite a weekend for DD. She turned eleven on Friday at 8:01 a.m. 🙂 Off to school with cupcakes, then after school prep for her birthday party sleepover. We rearranged the library furniture, set out all the snacks, and rented a few movies.

At suppertime, DD opened the box that came in the mail from her sister. Eight little gifts, all wrapped in pretty tissue paper. She had a lot of fun opening those.

Then it was party time. Of course, you can’t get six eleven-year-olds to all sit still at the same moment in time…

Amidst the piles of sleeping bags, pillows and overnight bags, they found room to play Apples to Apples, one of our favorite games.

I think it was about 3:30 a.m. before the last party girl fell asleep. They were tired, but they had fun! By 10 a.m. Saturday, the girls had been picked up by parents and we spent a good part of the day resting and watching a movie. DD had a basketball team party that evening, which DH took her to. I stayed home and recovered. 🙂

Sunday afternoon, Aunt Genny and DS and his wife came to celebrate DD’s birthday. This marks the end of an era for us. For almost thirty years we’ve had at least one child under the age of eleven. No longer.

Aunt Genny’s gift was the donation of a pig to a family in China in DD’s name. She gave DD a bookmark with pictures on it to remind her of how much the gift will impact the life of that family. Another favorite gift was this Abe Lincoln chomper from DS and DDIL. He nibbled on everything all evening, including this rubber duckie.

Niko received some special attention during the party.

We played Apples to Apples, then put together the Illinois puzzle she received from her brother and SIL.

1000 pieces! It took about three and a half hours to put together. A lot of fun! And we learned a lot about Illinois in the process.

After the puzzle was done, dismantled, and back in the box, we had pizza. A fun evening, and a good ending to the birthday weekend. Poor DD was dragging this morning, after three late nights in a row, but managed to get ready for school without fuss. Hopefully, we’ll have an early bedtime this evening!

There’s something truly magical about seeing a child’s face light up as they celebrate another year, surrounded by laughter and love. Of course, the exhaustion that follows a weekend of fun is inevitable—late nights, nonstop activities, and an endless supply of sugar-fueled energy. But that’s the sign of a successful birthday, one that will be talked about for weeks to come.

For celebrations like these, having the right venue can make all the difference. Whether it’s a cozy sleepover at home or a larger gathering with extended family and friends, finding a space that allows kids to have fun while keeping things organized is key. The Fort Worth Event Center is an excellent choice for those looking to host a birthday bash that’s both seamless and exciting.

With ample space, customizable décor, and the ability to accommodate different party themes, it takes the stress out of planning while ensuring a memorable experience for guests of all ages. Whether it’s a puzzle-solving night, a game-filled extravaganza, or a dance party under twinkling lights, the right venue transforms a simple birthday into something extraordinary.

And at the end of it all, as the last piece of cake is eaten and the final game is played, there’s nothing better than seeing a child happily recount their favorite moments before drifting off into a well-earned, deep sleep.

~~Rhonda 🙂