Micaela's Birthday Party

We didn't wimp out on letting Micaela have a party either. We took Micaela and her friends to the Indian restaurant around the corner and then let them take over the family room for the night. They played Rockband, watched Twilight and giggled all night. The only bummer was that Micaela's good friends from the U.S. and Singapore were out of town. But her friends from Scotland, France, the Netherlands and Turkey did make it.

Opening gifts from her friends

Getting the gift from her American friend Caitlin who couldn't come to the party


I did an audible gasp, which was caught on video, when Micaela pulled Doritos out of the gift bag.

Caitlin's parents have commissary privileges. The closest commissary is in Wiesbaden and is like any supermarket found in the U.S. People with commissary privileges (military and government workers) are forbidden from bringing "guests" along, though it has been know to happen. Instead, people offer to buy stuff for other Americans. I have asked friends to buy American baking powder, chocolate chips and brown sugar.

Micaela's gift back was full of snacks we don't find at German grocery stores: Pepperidge Farm goldfish, Gobbstoppers, Jolly Ranchers, Kool-aid, Nerds, Doritos and Poptarts, among other things.

Happy 13th Birthday, Micaela!