SIXTEEN CANDLES

 

This beautiful girl turned 16 on April 22nd.  We cannot believe that she is 16 and we wonder where all of the time has gone.  She is our "first" and because of this, every milestone seems so HUGE.  

If we were living in the USA she would be getting her drivers license, however we are not so her sixteenth birthday evolved into a different affair.  You are not able to have your official driver's license in Australia until you are 17.  Once you are seventeen, there are many restrictions that come with it and those restrictions don't go away for approximately 3 years.  

Tom and I have yet to decide if we are going to let her venture into the side of driving while living "down under" because all of the skills she would learn may become confusing for her when she is back living in the States.  Driving on the opposite side of the road is challenging for anyone at first and I think it would be difficult to flop back especially as a NEW driver.  I have struggles flip flopping back and forth despite the fact that I have been driving since Henry Ford invented the first car. :) 

Since the usual sixteen year-old events are not achievable while living down under, we thought we would try to celebrate with Miss Claire in style while making memories.  The weather on her birthday was less than cooperative, we were in the middle of a cyclone.  It rained like 340 mm in 3 days.  There were flash floods, trees down and it was not a GREAT idea to be outside.  Most of the things we had planned for her special day involved being in the sunshine so we had to postpone our plans for a bit until the weather cleared up.  

However, once the storm passed we were able to celebrate her birth with some fun "FIRSTS."  She went for her first official High Tea.  We spent the day in a beautiful spot overlooking the harbour and enjoyed all that High Tea has to offer.  Claire is quite the FOODIE.  She loves great tasting food, beautiful food and miniature food.   She might just be a Masterchef in the making.  

She was in heaven sitting on a beautiful balcony, sipping tea, tasting beautiful food with her best friend(me).  We had a chance to catch up and chat about her hopes and dreams.  I am so proud of this girl.  She truly strives to be the BEST she can be both inside and out.   It is bittersweet that I ONLY have 2 more years with this wonderful young lady until she is off to college.  I wish I could freeze time. :)  As for now, I will savor every MOMENT!

In addition to High Tea, we went to do the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb - see my next post.