lena is 8

lena's birthday is december 12.  born in gorlovka, ukraine in 2006.  she turned 8 last month and we celebrated with such joy.   and it's so much more than just a birthday.  we traveled and were in ukraine 3 years ago at this time of year.  we were there from december 4th, 2011 until january 14th, 2012.  so each year we not only celebrate her birthday, but we also remember those first moments with her.  we look back in awe and amazement.  i don't even know how we got here, weren't we just meeting this 5 year old, 27 pound, mystery of a child.
and now she is 8.  she is 53 pounds.  she is tall and rail thin but do not be decieved, she is strong as an ox.  she has long beautiful blonde hair.  she fights us on everything, but has learned to trust and signs "up" to her dad the second he enters the door.  how painfully difficult, both emotionally and physically the whirlwind of the last few years have been.  how triumphantly joyful and refining and beautiful they have been as well.

(december 2011)

(december 2014)

happy birthday, my dear sweet loved child.  not many get to see all the layers of all you are, but to those of us who know...you are spectacular.  

the celebration started on her birthday eve with friends and pizza and the lights on the fayetteville square.  she LOVES lights, so this was a perfect way for her to feel happy and special and to have fun while walk, walk, walking!

(seriously, how great is that face?!!)

then on the actual birthday, we had balloons and gifts.  hazel and anders got to pick out whatever they wanted to give her {within reason}.  it was the first birthday that she understood the concept of opening gifts, and wanted the toys so it was really great....she equally wanted the paper and ribbon!

then, a few days after her birthday, we did our now annual ukrainian feast with family.  we cooked and ate varyneky filled with potatoes and some filled with apple for dessert, and authentic ukranian borsch, that i make less authentic by adding more chicken and cajun seasonings. ha!  then instead of pushing cake or cupcakes on a gal who just doesn't like sweets, we stuck a candle in her favorite thing: greek yogurt.  happy birthday Lena!