Feliz cumple, Ruby!

It's been days of celebration for Ruby's birthday this year. We started with presents before breakfast, unwrapped at the speed of light and a special chicken dinner from Juanito's, one of our favorite local joints on her actual birthday. Iris was especially impressed with a crucial gift, some new undies, as the old ones had been provoking many a wedgie because they were too small. We called her princess of underwear for the rest of the morning.

A pizza party with friends and neighbors followed the next day, which is a lovely idea for a party but next time, we'll be ordering the pizzas, not making them by hand (live and learn, Martha--sometimes it's just better to get takeout). The girls went back to school today and it was Ruby's turn for lonche, which means we bring food for all the kids in her class. This happens about once a month, and as it was also her birthday lunch, we made chicken soup per her request and lots of pinkalicious cupcakes. They sang her many songs and each child gave her a birthday hug and some sort of wish or thing I like about you comment. And then they all took turns asking her about her favorite color, her favorite food, her favorite toy, and so on and so forth, and in spite of the stage fright, she even managed to answer mostly in Spanish. It made me love the school at least for today, in spite of all my doubts about it at other moments.

So she is now officially four and taking it very seriously, as four-year olds do not behave as three year-olds do, let alone two-year olds do. She led Iris into school with smiles this morning (and it worked--Iris didn't even blink when snatched from my arms!) and has made many a wise decision in the past few days. We're seeing far, far fewer tantrums and lots of pretty sensible behavior recently, although Iris seems primed to take over the toddler tantrum routine even as I write. And although it's been a long ride since we left Ellensburg, with lots of stress and change, what a pleasure to see Ruby really thriving here. Happy fourth, mi hija!