Helaina is now 8 years old. My oh my, where have the last 6 years gone? We ended up celebrating during the entire birthday week, starting the weekend before her big day with a family birthday party combined with her Baptism, and ending the weekend after her birthday with a Fun Junction party that included 13 of her friends. Parties, food, cake and gifts galore. Done and done. Glad February is over. It's always a hectic month with Chinese New Year, Valentines Day, Father Daughter Dance, mid-winter school break and her birthday. Glad March is finally here.
Last weekend after Mass Helaina was finally Baptized. She's been attending religious education classes since September and she loves it. Our church is very family friendly and geared towards the youth of the parish. We've all participated in classes and lots of activities over the 7 months. And here's a shocker - this past Sunday morning we were having breakfast and out of the blue Helaina says "Can we go to 8:30 Mass?" Sure thing. She loves to sing the songs and follow along in her children's mass booklet. She's learning all her prayers too. We're so impressed with big girl - she's growing up!
The moment Helaina had been waiting for. She was so excited that morning that she could hardly contain herself. Of course, wearing her new pretty white dress, shoes with heels and having her hair done in a bun helped.
Blowing out her Baptismal candle. "Do I get to keep the candle and the sash?" Yes, she was thrilled. She's wearing one of the crosses that I had when I was a little girl. I had lots of cross necklaces and gave them all to Helaina.
Combination Baptism and birthday party after the big event. Helaina's Frozen obsession continues (as does every girl in America's Frozen obsession), so Elsa and Anna had to be on the cake this year. We have to video Helaina singing "Let it Go" sometime. It's really something to see - and hear!
Finally the 27th arrived and we started out the day with a few presents before breakfast and then "anything you want" for your birthday breakfast. Bacon, egg and cheese bagel was the choice.
Jim and I surprised Helaina by showing up at school during her lunch and sitting with her and her friends. We brought her a birthday donut for dessert. Later that afternoon she had ice cream with her classmates to celebrate.
Oh yah, it was definately a splurge day. She picked Tulley's for dinner. After we ate the servers brought her the birthday ice cream sundae and sang their version of happy birthday.
Then it was pool in the bar ...
... and home for gifts and (gulp), more sweets - cake.
"Fake" American Girl doll Phoebe (from Target) to be friends with her American Girl Doll Ivy that Santa brought her. As gifts Helaina got some clothes for the "sisters" and a double carrying case that included bunk beds.
Helaina has wanted a DS for some time now but I didn't think it was necessary or needed, plus I had already purchased enough stuff for her birthday. Overruled by pushover Daddy who bought her a purple Nintendo 3DS and Olaf's Quest game from (where else) the Disney Frozen movie.
After gifts we had the ice cream cone shaped cake I made. It came out really cute.
And finally this past Saturday was the final party with her friends at Fun Junction, where 14 8-year olds ran wild for 2 hours, hopped up on pizza, sugar and adreneline.
Giant Carvel chocolate ice cream cake and...
... ice cream cone cupcakes that I made - also came out really cute - the kids loved them.
As if our home doesn't look like Toys R Us now, we added 13 more gifts into the mix.
Two games of lazer tag that all the kids love, boys and girls. They run around in a dark castle-like maze with different colored vests that light up while trying to "shoot" the opposing teams with their lazer guns. Insanity.
And then there was the arcade. Each child at the party got a card to play video games. This roller coaster simulator was popular. Wind blew out of the turbo fans onto the kids while the seats shook and turned according to what was happening on the screen. Crazy fun - they were all yelling and screaming on this thing the entire time. Let me tell you, when we walked out of that place I was doing a happy dance on the inside.
WHAT WERE WE DOING 6 YEARS AGO TODAY?
Embarking on our biggest adventure since we had been married. On the morning of March 7, 2008 we left our home to fly half way around the world to meet Men Ying. Little did she know that in just 2 days we would rock her little world - but not as much as she rocked ours!
I remember landing in Chicago and being nervous, excited, scared, nauseaus - every feeling and emotion you can possibly experience is going on inside you.
Chicago to Beijing. I'll never forget it. Little did I know that the next 13 days would be filled with moments that I would never forget.
I remember saying a prayer when the landing gear hit the ground in China. Huge sigh of relief for me. I was definately not a good flyer prior to the trip, but after the 7 total flights it took to adopt Helaina and bring her home, I felt like a pro. This truck was the first thing I saw out our window as we headed toward the terminal. After the relief or arriving safely subsided, then the real panic set in - oh my gosh - we're really in CHINA.
