six now for ever and ever

We'd been teasing M for months that she wasn't allowed to turn six.  Five had been such a brimful growing year: she learned how to ride a two-wheeler, roller-skate, and read.  It had also been one of delight.  Every morning she greeted me with a smile, with a song, with a giant hug.  She's usually the first one up, after me, and embraces each new day with the joy that she greets everything.  We didn't want that to change, not one little bit.  She insisted, though, and we celebrated her birthday earlier this month.

Of course, six has been just the same as five so far, but little M seems taller and more sure of herself.  On her birthday, she put on her brand new birthday dress, read us all her birthday poem, and was a tornado of happiness the whole day.  At dinner-time our sweet neighborhood yiayia dropped by with flowers and a balloon for the birthday girl.  It was so special.

For her birthday treat she requested cupcakes, so I made these and these.  I topped them with vanilla and chocolate (vegan) buttercream.  Some we glitzed up with sprinkles, others we swirled in chopped hazelnuts.  Yum.

I'm glad she'll be six for a whole year. (Maybe longer if she promises not to turn seven.)