A special girl turns sweet sixteen 4842 miles away from home

My birthday is in the middle of July which meant I was always out of school and most of my friends were away and so was I, which meant that my party usually was a “mom and me” thing, usually somewhere in Europe, or where ever we were that July.Although I don’t have any feelings of being lonely, I did feel a teensy bit sorry for our lovely visiting girl turning sweet sixteen away from her family and, as there were only seven girls in her tour, we decided to have a birthday party and invite the whole bunch for a spaghetti supper, cake and a viewing of Pirates of the Caribbean (Ayaka’s favorite movie).Morgan, being “one of the girls” picked a chair and resolutely refused to leave the party. Each time I shooed her off she circled the table and jumped right back on her chair.I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to have a mass of giggling, laughing teens here and I think the energy was really good for the spirit of the house especially after the disaster and during the full-swing-ahead renovations. I'm sure I would have had the same fun on a baja party bus, but this was quite wonderful as well.Little prezzies were given and received,The cake was lit and brought in to much cheer and applause. A very loud and rousing Happy Birthday was sung and the candles were blown out.And everyone was settled under comfy quilts in the library to watch their movie.A lovely evening and wonderful memories were made today. Memories of a sweet sixteen, a first time alone away from home, a first time in a foreign country, and of good, loving friends.