SWEET Sixteen

Our little Nixie isn't so little! Lord willing, once the quarantine measures are lifted, we'll have a proper summertime party, but she had a good day in spite of the unusual times.

Just like Luci, she wanted French toast, whipped cream, and berry sauce for breakfast.

For supper, she asked for spicy chicken sandwiches with homemade ranch and all the fixings. (In February, Luci had souvlaki with homemade pita, tzaziki, and homemade fries, and Susannah had crispy chicken wraps with homemade ranch and all the fixings, so we've been eating like fat fry kings for a while!)

Millie made her a berry-blondie trifle for dessert.

And she opened presents by spotlight after dark.

Later she sat surrounded by song and our love.

(Skylark gives the song her all, every last time.)

And, then, the next day, she was spoiled with a surprise gift from members of the Purdy clan!

Annika, like her mama, habitually struggles to turn off her mind and fall asleep at night.

Unlike her mama, she has longed for one of these since she first knew they existed.

A weighted blanket, a.k.a. a hug aaaall night long, for our girl who, years after leaving John and I notes proclaiming that she loves to "hug and cudle and cudle and cudle!" still needs a good squeeze each and every day.

Better than the blanket is the gift of friends who know and love her so well. YOU are the gift, Purdy chums!