Two digit Melanie!

 Melanie's treasure hunt was pretty tough. I had to hint a little...and since I made it, that's cheating isn't it?

At least the weather was good for the outside clues!

 We'd saved the pumpkin carving for this occasion. After all, Melanie likes crafts, wants to do things that are exciting...and if we waited any longer they'd start rotting!

 Birthday girl gets two poses!

 Melanie wanted to get a hot air balloon to fly. So she started working on constructing it. Ten is old enough for cool projects!

 Her younger siblings didn't think it was cool, and spent some time hanging out in the play room.

 Fortunately their imaginations were better outside. They constructed some piers

 and launched some motorboats.

 The hot air balloon was ready for launching!! It was not a success. It had a hole in the top that Melanie overlooked...and it is still in the closet waiting to be fixed and tried again. Melanie appears to have forgotten it!

 Melanie wanted super exciting balloons for 10 which is special. We said after ten you are too old for balloons. :o (that means, we get tired of having balloons around all the time).

 Melanie put up with our singing graciously.

 And present time was much easier to be gracious about. ;)

 Ten years have quickly passed. Melanie is a young lady already!