Happy Birthday Nani!

Yes it is a cliche; they are growing up too fast! But you know, though a cliche, it rings complete truth to me! It truly is amazing, the first words, first steps, first day of school, first loose tooth... Yet it seems there is one thing that remains the same through it all. The day she was born an overwhelming feeling of responsability overtook me, knowing this was my flesh and blood, this tiny baby overwhelmed me with her presence. This feeling of responsability has never left me, not a single minute. As I watch my Nani blow out 8 candles I am all to aware of this protective, responsability emotion and again I feel it overtakes me.

Nani's birthday party was fun. Pizza, play and movie. I just cannot help but to enjoy the colorful display of children in this photo. The nationalities in this photo: South-African, Ugandan, American, Dutch, Russian, U.K. (England) and Rwandan.

The set up of a little home-movie-theathre was a big succes. 5 girls spend the night after watching 2 movies and having loads of candy, surpsingly they all slept by 10.30 pm and didn't come out of bed until 7 am. The next morning, American pancakes and home made syrup for breakfast!

Happy Birthday Nani!

Yaida has hair!!

Yaida has hair now!!

It took about four hours to get all the brades in her hair. In the picture Isabelle (our househelp) is holding Yaida while Herriet does the brades. Yaida did great considering the amount of time!

Yaya loved her hair and keeps telling us how pretty she is, as if we did not know yet! In just a week she will be 18 months old. Wow time goes fast. She is such a cutie and soooo funny.

I just had to show her off to you all. I pray soon it will be face to face!

6 Years old!

Excited and shy she cam into the living room, after all it was time to open her presents. A quiet "wow" broke the silence. Zoey was completely speechless when she saw the Polly Pocket house. Gently she touched it and climbed on the table to get a closer look. Another "wow". She then gave her big sister specific instructions; Only watching, NO touching!

Zoey wanted her best friends to celebrate her birthday with her. From the left to right are: Casey, Nani, Rebecca and Ruth. It was a sleepover birthday party, so much fun!
Happy Birthday to you!

6 Years old! continued

Rainy season in Rwanda did not limit our joy. Zoey took her friends to a Mexican restaurant close by our house. Though the playground was muddy, the girls played African style. When walking back it was dark already and we made a long train singing: "chooc-a-chooc-a-yack-yack" as we were all slipping and sliding on the road.

The girls soaked in the bath and were ready to wind down with a movie in the living room. Popcorn (popped at a friends house who has a microwave) made for a special treat.

The next morning; the girls got up with the roosters and played all morning, only to completely crash in the afternoon. It was a fun time though. Zoey had lots of fun and so did the other children.

Surprise Surprise !

Yes I did it again. I build another house. This time it is a mall: Pocket Plaza and an appartment building. Though Kigali is developping rapidly, paying $10 for a Barbie the quality of those from the dollar store is still not in my budget. So what choice is left...

Zoey is turning 6 tomorrow. She once mentioned how she would like Polly Pocket house. After all I made Nani a Barbie house for her birthday. Hmmm..... Good point. Especially as the girls will have their own rooms in the hew house we will be moving into soon. I thought I would give it another try.

I am impressed I must humbly admit. I never thought that I could work out the ideas and imaginary rooms I saw in my head.

The elevator at the front of Pocket Plaza will bring Polly Pocket from the parking garage to the shoe store, clothing boutique or the roof level where she can relax at the pool side.

At the left building: Coffee shop with terras and two studio apprtments and a helicoptor landing spot on the roof. The mall has the garage, shoe store and boutique with the pool on the roof.Polly and her friends enjoying a cup of coffee.

Surprise Surprise! continued

By elevator Polly and her friends can come all the way to the roof to relax at the pool.

The helicoptor car can land on it's designated helicoptor landing spot.

Steps lead Polly, Pia and their friends to the studio appartments above the coffe shop.

The latest fashion displayed in this way hip store or should I say boutique?

Looking at this house I wonder why I am such a sucker for building these things. Remember Nani's barbie house back in September? I thought I would have learned my lessons then. The wood here is wet and crooked. I do not have he right tools, nor any real skill nor any example to go off. Just my imagination.

I must give a lot of credit to Jenni who send me a hot glue gun, felt and loads of other craft items. Thanks Jenni, without these items I would not have been able to make this house. Tomorrow is the big day. Zoey will be 6! Will she like it? Does she have a clue what happened behind the closed door of our guestroom during the past two weeks? Tomorrow we'll know. This time I am serious... Never again such a project!

Yaida One Year Old Today

The first photo we have of Yaida, when she was 3 weeks old.
Today this little angel turned one year old! If it weren't for God opening our heart to her, would she have ever had a first birthday? Loving the attention and having to sing "Happy Birthday" to her all day, she clapped and danced a lot today.

May I blow out the candle yet?

Really? It is ok to dump my face in the cake?Hi Hi, Alright here I go!

Happy Birthday Princess! You are loved.

Jasmin 1 Year Old

Jasmin, shortly after her birth exactly one year ago.
And here she is today, one year old, walking and talking. She loves to chase the kitty and goes crazy over the dog. Precious beautiful girl. Happy Birthday Jas! I love you!

This is for me?

Attack!

Jasmin 1 Year Old continued

Happy Birthday to me....

Jasmin was very serious about opening and testing her present. She absolutely loved it.