This is Shayne about to enjoy her birthday cupcakes. She is an amazing little girl. For her birthday she asked the kids not to buy her presents but to donate money to the Kauai Humane Society. She collected $23. It was not a big party, it turned out to conflict with a Brownie campout and one of her friends got the date confused and thought it was on Sunday. However, Shayne was in great spirits and the girls had a super time playing in the surf.

This is a confusing age, 9 year old girls are very sharp and can see the world for what it is, but yet they are also very young and naive. I am also conflicted, at one moment I want her to be responsible and adult-like, another moment I want her to snuggle with me and read a book.