Growin' Up!

Our time in Kentucky has been so FULL, but good.  Very good. 

This past weekend our big girl turned ten!  I know -- so hard to believe she's into the double digits!  Enjoy a few photos from her celebration (which took place the day after her actual birthday because of speaking engagements). 

We aren't the best at keeping 'traditions', but one I really try to keep is sharing a collage of birthday pics over the years -- I enjoy seeing the changes in their growth!  The first pic I think is from her first birthday at the orphanage (before we even knew of her)!

This year we got to celebrate with our old friends from our Kentucky Adoptive Families group!  Ellie really wanted to celebrate with her friends and the timing of this event was perfect.

Here is a video of this year's birthday candle because a still photo doesn't do justice to the uniqueness of her special candle!

Another tradition we are trying to establish is experiences.  This might be a little easier because their birthdays fall in the summer.  We also would rather spend our money investing in our kids' memory banks' by doing something special rather than emphasizing gifts. So earlier in the day we let the kids get their proprioceptive input (lots of hours spent in occupational therapy sessions taught me that big word) at a trampoline place.

We can't do anything like this in Albania and it's activity both of them could take part in.

Um, yeah, Reni couldn't seem to understand the landing rules.  He just wanted to keep practicing his flips, in spite of our corrections!

Ellie has always been proud of the fact that her birthday falls on "Flag Day" so when she spotted this t-shirt on a shopping trip with Gigi, she had to get it for her birthday (even after I told her it was a boy's shirt).

Happy Birthday, Ellie!  You are loved!