My middle girl turned eight earlier this month. Last year we had a holiday party of crafts and wonderland including gingerbread house making with 15 girls. This year I felt like eight was meant to be easier, more intimate and something special with just a few friends.
Plus this way we got to drag it out the celebrations a few extra days. Which is what this mom needed during this busy month, to slow it down and savor it just a little longer.
Eight is a birthday that feels stuck in the middle (as she is). But young enough for me to still feel like it’s my birth-day too. Opposed to when my oldest turned 10 in October and she owned that – practically planning her own party. It felt big, as it should be. Eight still feels angelic and sweet. As it should be.
When I asked my middle girl if eight felt older she said not really.
“I feel older than I did when I was seven, because that’s close to six, which is still kind of small. But I don’t feel as big as 10. Just eight,” said the awesome middle kid.
On the eve of her birthday she had a neighbor pal spend the night and we went to a local children’s production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Followed by dinner at her favorite restaurant and lots of toenail polish painting at home.
The next morning we celebrated her birthday with a big breakfast and cake before lunch. Presents were opened by the Christmas tree, because she is a Christmastime baby. And she loves that.
To extend the celebrations, after school a few days later I took her and three of her friends ice-skating downtown. They tore into presents in the car. We ate leftover cake outside where it was too windy to light a candle. No one sang happy birthday (that day) and she thought it was the best party ever.
Here are the snapshots from the easy Eight year for the middle girl. 
