Does she have her own apron? W-S used to have a small one for kids that are really nice. I got one for my DGD's to wear when they cooked with me at my house. Anthropologie also has some colorful printed ones with matching potholders. I don't know if she would be into that or not but I think they are cute. Maybe a set of good cake pans or brownie pan from W-S to go with if you're spending some $$. I love mine.

How about a subscription to ChopChop magazine? Something on going.

http://www.chopchopmag.org/

Does she like arts and crafts? A trip to A.C. Moore could yield a treasure trove of art supplies. They also have baking supplies, and some cooking/baking things geared toward younger cooks. Like cute aprons. Maybe add a cookbook for young chefs, like this one from the Culinary Institute of America:

The Young Chef: Recipes and Techniques for Kids Who Love to Cook

Happy Birthday to your favorite 9-year-old!!

I agree, feed her interests! Does she have good skates already?

Is there a Williams Sonoma or anything similar convenient to you? Many have Experience gifts, like this one

How about a gift card to a kiddie cooking class? :) Or a blank recipe binder/book/box for her to put her own recipes in. I think etsy has a bunch :)

get her a book, or a gift certificate for a book store, or, take her book shopping. Reading is such a GREAT activity!

Moni

A 9 year old who needed a tart pan? I love her! How about a white chef's jacket or a W-S Junior chef cookbook ?

I'm liking the recipe binder idea....as a secret gift from her younger sister....the crafty one.

I am an apron wearer.....all day, every day. I don a white chef apron early in the day to protect my clothing from water spots, toothpaste bleach spots, cooking spatters or drips, etc.

When the girls began coming over frequently, I bought several aprons for them to use when cooking, crafting, eating, and gardening.

I'm worried that she might think of a cooking gift as too utilitarian to be special. Between her household and mine (where she does most of her creative cooking/baking), she has an abundance of utensils.

She is way ahead of any cooking class for kids, seriously. She can take almost any recipe and follow it perfectly with little help. And now she knows how to make Ina Garten's lemon curd tart. :-)

What are kids reading these days?

Take her somewhere special like a TV cooking or chef show . Get an autograph book and fill it with some famous good chefs. A chef's hat with signatures on it maybe.

Maybe one of Ina Garten's books would be a treat.

....or take an adult class with her! A one time only or a class with a few lessons, not too long a commitment.

Why not ask her what she wants, or ask her adult guardian (I forget the living arrangement) what she may have mentioned having an interest in or a desire for?

You've received some wonderful suggestions. I really like the idea of a class that you could attend together. I recently attended a cake decorating demonstration that I found very interesting. Since she seems to enjoy making desserts, perhaps a one day cake decorating class would be fun.

A subscription to the Food Network magazine? She's amazing!

A recipe for a fabulous cake or other dessert and all the ingridents to make it at your house...along with an invite for a tea party after its made...crank out all the special tea, china, linen..wear your Sunday best and tell her the tea party is dress in your prettiest dress.

Little girls love tea parties and dressing up for them.

What about an inspirational necklace with her name engraved upon it? Here's an inexpensive version: Necklace

Gosh, what a bunch of fabulous ideas! Thank you all for your interest and thoughts.

Her G'pa and I went out for lunch today and I was able to pick his brain. We both agree that an experience would be great idea for her, and not necessarily associated with cooking.

I just found an arts and pottery 'camp' with a week long program that coincides with spring break. It sounds perfect for her and a great way to get her out of the neighborhood for several hours every day.

I just need to talk with the person who runs it to make sure that it's not geared too much for the youngest in the group.

I've always wanted a pastry bag set...lots of tips. Maybe go to a thrift store and buy her a bread machine...? Maybe a book on cake decorating or a class.

Give her some tart pans of her own, with a baking tool or two.

This is one of the (sprites), isn't it? I've been missing them and wondering why? I'm sure you will come up with the best idea; you for sure probably couldn't disappoint her, could you? Bless you for your interest in these two young ones.

There are some good gift ideas in the above posts. Maybe you could convert a "just average" gift into a personal one by adding her name or favorite nick-name to the object. An apron could read, Chef Special, by Jane, or Jane's Specialties, or Jane's.

A small starter cake/cupcake decorating kit with icing tips and bags. Wilton makes several at different sizes and price ranges. They are readily available at Michael's, Hobby Lobby and even Walmart.

I've decided. She has never been taught how to swim. I know that she has pretended to be sick rather than go to swim parties or the water park with her friends. She's very afraid of deeper water, getting dunked, etc., but wants so much to get in there with everybody else.

I'm going to give her lessons at my fitness center. They have beginner classes for children who are anxious about getting in the water and I've seen how wonderful the instructors are.

I can suit up and do my laps while she getting her lessons; I can be in the locker room with her so that she's not intimidated. G'pa thinks that it's the best idea ever.

P.S. I'm scared about what kind of cake she's going to want to make. I've suggested a sheet cake of some kind but I doubt that she will want that. Sigh.

That sounds perfect - a gift that will last a lifetime in more ways than one. What is a sprite (fairy) ???

I've always called these girls my sprites.....elf, pixie, fairy....because they wove a magical spell over me from the first time I met them. They charmed me into doing all kinds of things I would never do if I was in my right mind, like letting them tromp in my gardens pulling weeds and picking flowers, taking them to see kid's movies and musicals, playing host to their friends on the spur of the moment, and stocking my pantry and fridge with clementines, apples, boxes of raisins, and juicy juice boxes.

My husband and I are an important part of their little world and we feel so blessed because of them. They are being raised by their widowed grandfather with lots of support from us.

Rhizo- I don't think I was around when you first mentioned the sprites but I have enjoyed all of the stories about them and shared them with my husband.

I went looking for your first post about them and I just have to say it was great reading! They really have wormed their way into your hearts, it is just wonderful!!

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2724694/wwyd

I'm curious, in that thread you posted,

"No tea with dollies, though. :-) That's just not gonna happen."

So, has it happened yet? ;)

How I love reading these posts about you and your Sprites, Rhizo. They really lift my spirits up. Even when I'm already feeling good and happy, I just beam thinking of them and you. This is not like me at all! I think all puppies are cute, but I don't think babies are cute at all. I don't have a maternal instinct or bone. But I love, love reading about you and your little neighbour cuties.

I think swimming lessons is a terrific idea! Do post a picture of the cake. LOL

Swim lessons are perfect! Every child should know how to swim. My mom never did and was very afraid of the water. We had a boat when I was growing up. I didn't know until I was an adult that my mom was afraid. She made sure we kids had swimming lessons and never passed her fear of the water on to us.

What a wonderful gift you are giving her!

The relationship has certainly evolved, that's for sure. I am not comfortable with how much private information about their unfortunate history that I shared in that first post...ashamed of myself.

I just want to say that these girls have turned into well behaved, mannerly, and caring little people. Their grandfather is an amazing person. The parents, by the way, are no longer in the picture and the girls have thrived with G'pa.

So glad you've decided on swim lessons! How perfect! Your little sprite will love you forever for this gift. And that you can be there with her while she's taking the lessons is a bonus. She won't be alone.

My DGD wanted a homemade carrot cake for her 16th birthday party last year. I hadn't made one of those in years, but I did it (3 layers worth) plus a chocolate sheet cake for our big family & friends birthday celebration. She loved it. I put store-bought number candles (1 and 6) on top and a few other decorations and it was fine. I'm sure yours will be great and made with love too.

Rhizo, I definitely agree with Grandpa and others here, swim lessons will be the best gift ever! ! And yes, please post a picture of the cake!

Rusty

I think the swim lessons would be great. All children should know how to swim & be comfortable around water.

You oughtn't be ashamed! When we first encounter these situations we go to the village to ask and receive advice and or for people to just listen. This village is a little bigger is all. You do a wonderful thing and are an inspiration. Love the swimming lessons. :)

Swim Lessons! A perfect gift. So glad Grandpa is on board for this. Being "water-proof" is such an important life skill. And, knowing how to swim opens up so many recreational, fitness and social opportunities. As others have said, you are giving her a life-long gift.

Swim lessons are a great idea!

How about a Boston Cream Pie for her cake? They aren't difficult to make, yet they require several steps to finished product that she might enjoy and appreciate. I've made them from scratch and believe me I am not a great baker.

Thanks, everybody.

I feel real good about the swimming lessons. Last summer, we (sprites and I) were sitting outside chatting about everything on their minds, and she asked me to measure how tall she was.

She finally told me that she had been invited to a friend's swim party and the shallow end was so many inches deep. So we compared her height to the depth of the pool.

She also wanted a description of what it felt like to be under water, did it hurt to upen your eyes....could you see?

As much as I tried to make it sound like fun, I could tell that she was troubled and anxious. Turns out that she faked the proverbial stomach ache so that ahe didn't have to go. Poor thing, she's so athletic and physically fearless in everything I've seen her do. I think that will love learning how to swim and overcoming her fear.

About the cake......SHE will decide what she wants to make. We've done layer cakes, buttercream frosting, she's enamoured with pastry tips, etc. I'll pin her down tomorrow so that I can be sure that I have everything.

Do a google search for swimming pool cakes! They look fun to make. In the furure-check out flirtyaprons.com. They have pretty ones for adults and kids. Also matching mitts.