A birthday breakfast for the birthday girl. Since Rocky had a flight to Dubai for the week right after she left for school, we got to celebrate her birthday in the morning.
Birthdays are very special in Swiss Kindergartens.
The person who had the last birthday gets to set up the party. There are special songs and games.
The birthday kid gets to choose their friends to help with different activities.
One of which lights the candles. Because they aged 5-7 so totally competent with fire.
It's generally just really enjoyable to be in the kindergarten because the kids are so well behaved in polite. Also, since I bake like an American, they really loved Violet's cupcakes and that made her feel especially celebrated.
Later that week, Violet got her birthday present, a pony riding party with friends from school. It was below freezing with biting winds. Rocky and I debated if we could just drop off and leave like the other parents. I also, couldn't believe it when I told the trainer that it would be best to do the party all in German as all the children there spoke and understood--including my kids.
Brushing the ponies.
And decorating them. After all the kids had found shelter in the barn by a space heater, I found Rocky out here, he said, "How often do you get a chance to braid an actual pony tail?"
After a ride through the forest, which was decidedly warmer than the farm, we came inside for some cake.
Another Rocky Special.
Last night we were talking about what a change a year can make. Last year at this time. Violet had one, maybe two, friends. She refused to speak at school. She showed no sign of speaking or understanding German and after visiting her class for her birthday I went home wondering if we had made the right choice for her.
In the past year she has made so much improvement. She has made so many new friends--almost all only German speaking. She chats and plays effortlessly in two languages and is engaging and vocal in class. We are inspired and completely in love with this brave, smart six year old.
No comments:
Post a Comment