a Birthday

For the little girl who stirs up pink soup for in her play kettles & always, but always, chooses the pink marker, a pink 3rd birthday party was the only choice.
While some of the decorations & food flopped, burnt or was too expensive to even buy, we ended up with a fun evening & a very happy birthday girl.
I should explain her big day was June 21. The poor dear was sick on her birthday & then there were a few delays finding a time to suit us all. A few weeks late was better than never. She thoroughly enjoyed that even though her birthday was past, we kept reminding her the real party was coming!
We were sad that vehicle issues kept the Groff's from joining us. Elliot, we've got ice cream cones in the freezer & we are savin' them til you can join us!
Thanks to Adrian, we managed to have the food ready. He even stirred up some excellent tasty teriyaki tuna burgers for the grill.

Fresh flowers in Ghana don't exist unless they are tended by your hand in your flower bed. Absence of good dirt for growing (another story), meant a party sans flowers. And what did my big sisters teach me?! What is a party without flowers!? A little creativity turned out these pink popcorn ball & cocoa leaf flowers. :)

Hot dogs are a treat here. Putting them on a kabob stick made them even better for the kids. One is even left with a weapon when the meal is over. :)


Blowin' out the candles while we all watch & wait was a moment she savored! She puckered up & put them out on the first try. This little wilting doll cake was sliding off the plate in no time. Heat & icing don't go well together! Earlier in the afternoon, Elle snuck a look in the fridge. She made it all worth it when she wouldn't be pried away. She stopped, stared & declared the "Oh, Mommy, it's beauuuutiful!" My under par cake decorating skills were not a problem! Chocolate chips, chocolate icing & a pink dressed doll were all she needed.

Gifts hidden since February finally were opened! Thanks, everyone!
The little pink paper in front is from Max! He painted it, wrapped it, & taped it up quite well. She opened it with the same care as the rest. :)

Time is a fickle thing. Just today it slowed to a crawl as that little stinker refused to cooperate for a peaceful nap time. But whenever she watches video of the baby girl she once was, I wonder wherever the time went. Perhaps I'd better just enjoy today.
Here are a few Elle-isms for you.
She got a bike with training wheels for her birthday. She tends to stop by running into things but loves, just loves, make laps around the house at a steady speed.
She has personified her pink stuffed puppy to the point of him ( yes, him!) being a family member. (No, I won't give you more snack- even if it is for puppy!)
She is usually unable to find her shoes. Unless Jon is walking to the Bontragers. Then she is waiting by the door & will not be left behind.
Our dirt street has a fair amount of traffic. One slow going (pot holes)car at a time means at times they can ride bike outside the walls. If a car comes, Elle steers straight into the ditch & begins shrieking. :0 If anyone wasn't watching the obrunis, they are now!
Helping at the sink & "doing" dishes are her two favorite activities. I try to remember someday she actually will be helpful. :)

Her favorite morning is Sunday, complete with a pretty dress & hair.

Though she loves the dress, she is still learning to survive Ghanaian church. She is quite a distraction. Aunt Mary's beads are still her favorite.

She loves to attempt to carry things on her head. Usually she is far from successful. :)

Heat rash, itchy bug bites & bike crash wounds aside, Elle is, as she calls it, bein' a Ghana lady.