The big 9!

The greatly anticipated day - Asha's 9th birthday! It has been a truly lovely day - from breakfast in bed, to unexpected e-cards from gorgeous blippers, to pass the parcel (see extra), to movies, to carrot cake topped with strawberries (also an extra), to unexpected shouts from the street where friends took an unusual route to the shop (see extra for us captured from below!), to surprise Zooms with her friends, and scheduled ones with loved family and friends...it really has been a very special day.
I am so grateful to have been gifted Asha...she really is a joy. Her strength of character is a constant surprise, an example is her vegetarianism. She decided quite a few months ago to not eat meat as she loves animals too much...despite many many opportunities to renege on this decision, she's stuck to it....and not for lots of temptation and feeling weak. But I feel so proud of her strength in her convictions. It reassures me that she'll be a decent grown up and not just be blown about as a character. Also grateful for her caring nature, her creativity, her craziness...just her!

Today I'm grateful for;
1) The many people who showed Asha how much they love her.
2) My mom writing an amaaaaazing story for Asha, illustrating it, and then recording herself reading it - precious! 
3) Parenting with Danny. 

Also, Asha's gone to bed shattered, but no doubt she blip her birthday tomorrow morning.