Happy 8th Birthday Charlotte!

Selamat ulang tahun Charlotte!  On November 14, Charlotte celebrated her 8th birthday.  She has had a big year of growth in Bali and was so delighted about this milestone! 

In keeping with tradition, Charlotte's birthday planning started on November 15 last year.  She is a dedicated party planner.    When we made the decision to stay in Bali, she shifted her focus and began to consider various tropical venues and ideas.  We finally landed on a plan for a celebration at home with swimming, clay hand-building, and various games Charlotte orchestrated (with our help). 

The highlight was the scavenger hunt.  Several months before her birthday, Charlotte wrote each of her friend's names on a popsicle stick to draw randomly for teams.  Nat and Alexa developed a couple of dozen clues and hid them around the villa.  The kids zoomed around the yard and house looking for them.  Squeals of delight issued from the first-place team, who each received the prize of a giant lollipop.  (The other teams were good sports about their prizes as well.)

We were so pleased that Dewa's children, Surya and Bintang, accepted our invitation to join the festivities.  Dewa's wife, Raka, and the staff in their shop made the decorations by hand. 

As a surprise gift, Dewa commissioned a sign to welcome guests at the door.  It's made of styrofoam (to the consternation of some Green Schoolers).  You see them all over Bali at celebrations such as weddings, tooth filings, and grand openings of shops, banks and restaurants. 

Alexa and I selected the cake design.  Charlotte wanted it to be a surprise.  She loved it.  The sparkler candles I picked up in Cambodia were also a hit.

As is the tradition among the expat set here, we had parents join us for drinks, dinner and cake.  It was fun to end the party with a grown-up chat while the kids splashed around the pool.

On the 14th, we celebrated as a family with a fancy dinner at Kebun, complete with singing waiters.

We'll cap off her birthday with a final gift, a trip to Waterbom, Charlotte's "favorite place in the whole world."  It is a beautiful water park with enormous slides and pools.

Nat and I are thrilled to have created a special memory, for both Alexa and Charlotte, of a birthday in Bali.