Natalya is 9!

June 1, 2013
My baby is 9.  It's hard to believe! She used to be so tiny...

This year I surprised her with a Hawaiian themed birthday.  Although she didn't have a party, we still celebrated in style!

The sign on the window says Happy Birthday Natalya in Hawaiian.  It looks like, "Hau oli La Hanau Natalya!" but with proper accents. :)

We wrapped a big box filled with foam packaging peanuts.  In it was a Kindle Fire, case, stylus, nerdy glasses, gum and chap stick.

Natalya reads.  A lot.  She loves, loves her books.  She has accumulated quite a collection over the past few years.  This year she asked for a Kindle Fire (e-reader) for her birthday.  Knowing that it was a pricy gift, we asked her to earn half of it by doing daily chores and practicing the piano.  She worked hard for 3 months before her birthday!  I'm pleased to say that she earned half of her Kindle  just days before she turned 9.  For her birthday we paid for the rest.  SO, on June 1st she finally opened her Kindle Fire HD 7" and absolutely LOVES it.  She also treats it was care because she understands how hard it was to earn it in the first place.  

Haha!  After Natalya was done opening her gift, the little girls played in the box.

Breakfast?  Egg in a basket.  Mmm...

One of Natalya's best friends is Alexandra Breen.  We had her over  to swim - the girls had a blast.  

Dinner?  Red Robin, of course. It's a birthday classic at our house. 

Natalya chose homemade Oreo truffles over birthday cake.  I made mint and regular.  But we didn't eat them on her birthday - after Red Robin we were too full!  This picture of Natalya blowing out her candle was taken on June 2nd.  She thought it was a sweet deal because it felt like a 2-day birthday!

Happy birthday, sweet girl.  Your daddy and I love you to pieces.