The Blonde Squad in Auz: 15 AND ROYAL

Our Royal Princess, Claire, turned 15 this last week. It is hard to believe that we have 3 years left before she heads into the BIG WORLD. We love her so much and enjoy the fun spark that she adds to our lives. She is such a blessing and for the most part a very pleasant 15 year-old teenage girl. We feel very fortunate that she remains so even in temperament and girly drama.

One of the things that we love to give our kids on their birthdays is a list of the reasons why we love them. Tom produces one and so do I. The list of reasons corresponds with their birthday age. Here is the list that I made for Claire this year.

15 - REASONS WHY I LOVE MY ROYAL CLAIRE

15 - She is a "SPEEDY" reader.
14 - She is a technology wizard - Ladybug phones will not be necessary when Tom and I are old with her help.
13 - She is valiant even when life is hard.
12 - She is a great example and playmate to "YOUNG" children.
11 - She has pure thoughts and language in a WORLD that does not.
10 - She is respectful of her elders. She loves and honors them even when their requests seem weird.
9 - She is a FANTASTIC artist. We have discovered that a great talent lies beneath the surface.
8 - She is "wicked" funny. Life is never dull.
7 - She has beautiful eyes. They sparkle with light.
6 - She has a lovely smile. She is happy and positive no matter what trial is waiting for her.
5 - She is musical. I think that no matter the instrument, she could play it with a little practice and lessons - quick learner!
4 - She is a hugger. At 15, she still loves cuddles from her 4 BFF's - her family.
3 - She is so responsible. Not everyone can study independently at 14/15 and be successful - you go girl.
2 - She is a stunner - beautiful inside and out.
1 - She is such a blessing in my life. She makes me strive to become a better person by following her example. I love you MISS Claire - Happy 15th!

Last year, we celebrated her birthday by going to the zoo. This year, we decided that we would celebrate her 15 years of life by attending the ROYAL EASTER SHOW. The Royal Easter Show is very similar to a county country fair in the USA. It is an opportunity for the rural parts of Australia to come to the BIG SMOKE (the city). There is a huge display of agriculture and livestock. There happens to be a very commercial side to the Royal Easter Show where they have rides, carnival games, and showbags. But, I wanted to take the girls to the Royal Easter Show to learn all they could about this beautiful country and what it has to offer in-terms of produce and livestock. Our hairdresser told us that it is a great opportunity to show your kids what it takes to sustain life.

The Royal Easter Show did not disappoint. We had a fantastic day and saw tons of cute small and large animals. We learned so much about sheep -- what they eat, how many stomachs they have (4), how to shear them, the different breeds, wool, and spinning wool. It was FANTASTIC! The girls have a completely different perspective about what it takes to make a gorgeous merino wool sweater. We finished off the day with about 6 carnival rides (the classics) and came home feeling very fulfilled! SUCCESS!