"I am THREE-teen going on FOUR-teen" - Ani's Birthday

Yes... that was Ani's song not too long ago.  Taken from Sound of Music, it made perfect sense to her :)

I realized as I logged in to write this post that it has been FOUR MONTHS since I last did a post!  With the internet being horrible lately, having no internet at the house, and Ani generally being a goose about pictures blog posts just haven't really been flowing.

Anyway... without further ado: Ani's 4th Birthday

The colors for her birthday didn't really go with the colors in the house so we covered the futon with a bedspread and changed the pictures above it to the ones that were in her room at the Lemuel House.

The Birthday Girl - all dressed up in the dress Grammie sent her.

 

After church our admin team and some of Manis' family came over for a special dinner.  While everyone was waiting for it to be ready, Manis' aunt, Marenn (the one holding the puppy and walking funny), played with Ani and had her running and laughing like a crazy person :)

Dinner is served...

Time for presents!

 Sam spent a good part of his Saturday making a cradle for Ani's doll (of which she claims he is the father :))  Bonita and Elysha made a mattress and pillows for it out of old curtains and sheets :)

In the late afternoon (ie it is not so hot) we had a second party for Ani and her younger friends :)

 

Most of them showed up almost an hour early so they entertained themselves while they waited for Ani's teacher, Kattia, who did the games and program for me.

Kattia had a present for Ani and, most touching of all, so did each of the kids!  I had never thought to mention "no gifts" because I hadn't thought they would even know that that is a norm.  Some brought her crackers, some brought cheese puffs, one brought a juice that is so sweet Ani is not usually allowed to have it ;)

Singing Happy Birthday

Playing games...

 Thony was kind enough to DJ for us :)

The cake with 4 candles ready to be blown out!

Supper with friends.

And that pretty much sums up the day!  I can't believe my baby is FOUR!!!

Haircut!

 About a week ago Bonita was cutting my hair and Ani decided she wanted hers cut too.  I had been thinking for a while of cutting it so it seemed a perfect time!  It is much easier to work with now! The only downside is that it doesn't hold braids as well, but we have taken the opportunity to try some other things with it...

  

Yesterday we straightened it!  Tati Bonita took a few pictures when Ani visited her in her office...

 

She told me she looks like a momma now because she has straight hair :)

We're In!!!

For some time now Manis and I have been working on building our own house.  Many of you have been praying with us, supporting us, and in many ways encouraging us through this process... THANK YOU!  We moved into our new house in January.  The house isn't completely finished but we are very much enjoying having our own space and being able to leave work and go home :)  I am sorry I haven't posted any pictures till now.  There was so much to be done and I never felt it was quite ready for pictures :)

Mom was here the last two weeks and helped me get the house from livable to pretty :)  So, without further ado, our new house...

 

This wall faces the the front door. The paintings are not evenly spaced because I tried to leave room for frames... hopefully it works!

That writing isn't actually on the wall yet but it is an idea of what I am planning to do after we paint.

Mom and I had so much fun picking out all that fabric and Mom made all the cushions.

This desk was my great-grandmother's!

Mom made the curtains too :)  She also found the dining room set at a used furniture store... YAY!

  Looking from the other side of the half wall.

Grandma and a friend of hers quilted the table runner for me.  I wish you could see in the picture how beautiful it is.  The little sign in the plant was part of a set that Ani got as a gift.  It says "Pray for Rain."  :)

Ani's book cabinet is in the hallway now.

The bathroom... obviously ;)

Shower and shelves

Eventually the sink will be here.

 

  Door from the hallway into our room.

Our room.  

Aunt Phyllis has made cushions for the glider, they should get here on Monday.

Our bed and Ani's bed.

Ani's space

The closet for now.

 My prayer corner that Mom set up for me and more curtains that she made.

 
 Proverbs 31 that Grandma cross-stitched for me as a wedding gift.  

Well, that's the end of our virtual tour for today :)  Have a GREAT day!

Christmas Eve

 As always we had a Christmas Eve party past night.  It was put on by the school, the church and the youth group working together.  They did a beautiful job.  I will be posting some pictures over on Lemuel's Blog later today but for now here are some of Ani and the rest of us. 

 All dressed up for the party (yes that's the same dress she wore to the wedding:)).  

She is standing next to her new ornament from Mema. 

 With Tati Bobo and the cat

 

 Twirling to the music at the party

 With the kids who were waiting to go sing.

One of the teachers lent Ani his Santa hat.

 The family :)

No smile but she's precious none the less.

 The matching musicians, Sam ad Manis.

Asleep under the tree.

 An angel when she's asleep.

 

This morning when she woke up there was a surprise waiting for her in the other room.

"Is she for me momma?!"

" I love my baby!"

She named her new doll Princess.  

More photos to come... but I want to get these up before it gets any later.