Lots to celebrate

Zoya was a New Year's baby and so we had something extra special to celebrate today. She is six years old. First, a trip to Walmart to get her ears pierced. She has been playing in my jewelry since she got home in August, trying to stick my earrings in her ears. She did not understand why they worked on my ears, Liesel's, Hope's, and even Ava's, but not on hers. Her face lit up yesterday and she said, "Yay!!" when I asked her if she wanted to get her ears pierced for her birthday so she could wear earrings like mommy.

The girls got on their fancy matching dresses for the occasion. When it was all said and done she had flinched just for a second but then she gave me a big smile and a thumbs up. Some random onlooker, a guy with multiple facial piercings, commented that she did better than he has ever done! Sadly she is very used to getting poked with needles.

Hope was so excited to be a part of Zoya's big moment. I about cried when I took this picture of Hope holding the mirror so Zoya could admire her beautiful new look. Zoya picked pink butterflies, of course.

Liesel and Joseph came along as well. Tell me if Joseph's expression doesn't remind you of how your husband looks while he is waiting for for you to finish up your shopping at Walmart. :) But it's Ok. He had a piece of paper (a return receipt) which always makes him happy.

We decided (it was Liesel's idea) to combine John's and Zoya's birthday celebrations. Poor John has a birthday immediately after Christmas and complains that he never got birthday cake and parties, and half the time his gifts got lumped together, wrapped in Christmas paper. "This is for Christmas AND your birthday." I am to blame as well, but who really wants to eat birthday cake or go shopping on December 27?

A little girl fishing on the hill, for Zoya, and a Fish in the Pond cake for John. The fishing pole is a little paint brush with a string tied to the end. I thought it turned out pretty cute if I do say so myself!

Just had to throw this photo in. Ava LOVES her Aunt Marlita. She is feeding her the worst part of her pizza, the crust.

I have no idea whether or not orphans in Ukraine get to celebrate their birthdays, but it was a first for US anyway, to get to be with Zoya on her birthday. If I think about it too much I start to cry.  I wish I could have been there on the day she was born, to welcome her into the world! 

She blew her candles out, then signed 'more' so we lit them again and let her blow them out two more times. Liesel said we should have let her blow them out six times, for every birthday party we have missed. Wish I would have thought of it before all the cake was gone.

Today I am a mother to FOUR six-year-olds. :) 

Every morning Zoya wakes up singing a song. Every night she goes to sleep singing as well. Tonight she sang Happy Birthday to herself. I wish you could have heard it but we couldn't find the video camera. It was just about the sweetest thing I've ever heard. Zoya has enriched our lives. We are thankful that her mother gave her the gift of life six years ago, and we are thankful that she is ours now. Happy Birthday my sweet girl, and many more to come.

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P.S. I forgot to mention on my Christmas update post, Liesel is the proud owner of a guinea pig. He is as sweet as can be, which is why his name fits him so well....Prince Charming.