We awoke early this morning to celebrate the beginning of Maddy’s 17th birthday.

Waffles and chicken bacon was accompanied by opening of cards that had arrived in the mail over the past several days. Ben and Ella each gave Maddy their homemade cards. Ben’s featured a lightsabre battle between him and Maddy and Ella’s card was decorated with balloon and contained a surprise enclosure: a real one dollar bill from the United States. They learn quickly, don’t they.

So we’re off to get Maddy from school, then to dinner at Cactus Club Cafe – the best restaurant west of 170 St.