Happy Birthday, Vroni!

We had a party today, It's Vroni's birthday. 

The girls wanted to wear frilly dresses, but they know it would make me feel cold, because our house is cool this time of year, so they all wore warm sweaters.

Matti had baked the cake. Who knew such a young kid could bake a cake all by himself? (I think I have figured out why his clothes are getting tight.)

It's easy to remember the date of Vroni's birthday, because it's Groundhog Day. This year, it's also the first anniversary of the day she arrived in our home. That's why there is only one candle on the cake.

Before blowing out her candle, Vroni read her birthday card from me and told everyone she felt so blessed, she didn't know what to wish for.

Before Vroni opened her presents, she picked up the card again. She looked up at me and said living here with us is the best present she could ever have.

All the kids got together to give her one big card. They had picked it out together.

She asked them when they managed to get out all together without her. They all laughed and said in unison, "While you were braiding your hair!"

Vroni said she loves her card.

Vroni is a great bibliophile, so she wanted to open the present from Matti first, because it looked like a book, and it was.

"I know how much you love dogs," Matti said. Lotte pointed out that she loves dogs, too, especially Pierre.

"I especially love puppies," Vroni said. "Thank you Matti!" (She was secretly wondering if Matti was trying to convey some hidden meaning with the book's title, Puppy Love.)

Dolly gave Vroni a big box of chocolates. Vroni offered them to all her friends before taking one herself.

The gift from Lotte was a pair of Götz sandals. "Where did you find them?" Vroni wanted to know.

Lotte replied that she had brought the shoes with her when she came from Europe to live with us.

"You bought me a present before we ever met?" Vroni asked, clearly touched.
"I knew I would love you," Lotte explained.

The present from Gabi was a lovely necklace with a crystal heart. She explained that she knows every girl likes jewelry.

Vroni said it was perfect!

She had to give Gabi a hug.

The present from me was next: A sweater from a pattern by Cataddict on Ravelry in Palette "Caribbean" and a pair of slacks to go with it.

Mandy explained that she had modeled for it for fit, as they are the same size. (She has been hinting that she would like a pair, too.)

Vroni held up the sweater and slacks, so I could see how it would look together.

Mandy gave Vroni a drop spindle. 

"You've always said you wanted to learn to spin, so now I can teach you," Mandy said, adding that she had tried it out to make sure it was balanced, so it already has a nice cop on it. "It's easier to learn to spin if the spindle has a little weight."

The present from Alister was a walking sheep. He wound it up for her. Vroni was so surprised and excited, she threw her hands up.

"I knew y'all would love it," he drawled. "Clothes, shoes, books, candy and jewelry are fine, but every kid needs a new toy."

While the others were putting on "The Secret Life of Pets" to watch, Vroni and I went into the bedroom, so she could change into her new clothes.

She noticed she didn't have the right color hair ribbons on. Then she asked me to remove the tag from her shoes.

After the movie was over, Lotte, Mandy and Vroni cleaned up the mess.

When they moved the boxes and paper, they found a bunch of popcorn on the floor, right under Matti's chair.

Pierre! Clean up on Aisle 5!

Boys! 

Happy birthday, Vroni!

And happy anniversary, too. It has been great having you with us for this past year. (Aren't your feet cold?)