Robin Vladislava - age 8 - Happy Birthday!!

Robin's birthday was in the middle of November and I am now finally getting to put her pictures on the blog. (It is in the middle of the night and I can't sleep - that is the time I mostly get to blog!) ;-) Also, we have been home a little over 10 months now and there is so much I want to write about!! The best thing about this time with them home with us has been seeing all their "firsts!!" There have been lots of firsts!! I will write about that later - I know, I know - I always say that, but I will REALLY try this time. ;-) I have pictures to share about their first wedding dance and their first time at a water park. Both were lots of fun!!

So, on to Robin's birthday. We had a girl's day planned with Robin and mama. We did a little shopping and went out to lunch. She wanted "pamcakes" so we went to Perkins. Then we went over to the mall to get "owies" in her ears that she has been asking for since she arrived in the US. Then we went to Wal-Mart to get some needed supplies and then out to ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery (another first). I wasn't going to do a party for her, since I thought this "date" with the ear piercing was in lieu of a party, but she kept asking when all the people were coming, so we quickly threw a little party together the next day so my parents could bring her her birthday gifts and asked our friends if we could steal their kids' for a bit. It ended up being a good weekend for her. On the way to Brainerd, I asked her what they did for her birthdays in Ukraine and she said she never had a birthday, so at age 8, we got to celebrate her "first" birthday!!

Robin with brand new "ears." I wanted to take a picture of her actually getting her ears pierced, but she had a panic moment and wanted to hold on to both of my hands. I told her she didn't have to do it, but she wanted them bad enough to go through with it!! ;-)

Robin's actual birthday party. We didn't get any really good pictures of her - she is in disguise with the hat and sunglasses that she got for her birthday!!