A birthday re-do

So it turns out that one of the kids was playing with my camera before Iwent to bed and deleted all the pictures from my birthday… I know it was anaccident and I didn’t want to be mad at her but I couldn’t help but cry becausemy birthday/anniversary with the kids was such an important day for me. So Ispent most of yesterday morning crying and I thought it was going to be apretty crappy day. All my boys here felt terrible for me and were so sad to seeme crying. After an hour or so of sulking around, the boys pulled me into theclassroom where we had my birthday party and told me that they would buy a cakeand put it in my face and we could take pictures all over again. It was sosweet—they tried everything to make me smile. I laughed, kissed them on theheads, and went into my room. I remembered that I had brought chocolate andvanilla pudding powder stuff from America to make with the kids—today was theperfect day to make it! Jonas, lucky and I walked up to the Rau market which isabout a 25 minute walk and we bought milk. We brought it back to the house, gota bowl, and made the chocolate pudding first. The kids had never tasted puddingbefore and they FLIPPED for it. I loved seeing them smile so much that I madethem the vanilla one too. Normally, we share this kind of stuff with ALL thekids but today there were just 6 of us—which made it even more fun. While I wasmaking the vanilla pudding, the boys went into my room, found the party hatsand the leis, and all came running out of my room with balloons and the hatsand necklaces on screaming “happy 21st birthday neema!”  and they handed me my camera. Abdallaand Lucky stuck their hands in the pudding and put it on their face and said,“neema, take a picture! Lets recreate your birthday party!” My whole body filledwith joy as I watched them try so hard to make up for the pictures I had lostfrom my actual birthday. I joined in the fun and made us some juice and we hada little mini party. We colored, ate pudding, listened to music and tookpictures. It turned out to be a pretty awesome day. Before I went to bed,Abdalla, Amani, Baracka and I played a game of SORRY! on my bed. When I come toTanzania, I spend most of my time at Mama’s house where we have bedrooms forsome of the older orphans—we also have some of the younger kids stay here butmost of the little ones sleep down the road at the actual orphanage. Part ofthe reason I'm so close with Hellen, Lucky, Neema, Jonas, George etc is becausethey live here at mama’s. Abdalla, Amani, and Baracka have been staying atmama’s house with me since the car accident—we want them here in their own bedsuntil they heal because they normally sleep three to a bed and we don’t wantanyone accidently hurting each others wounds. So as everyone always says,everything happens for a reason… and if it weren’t for the accident, these boyswouldn’t be living here with me and we would not have grown to be sooooextremely close. Prior to the accident, I didn’t see these boys very often andI definitely didn’t know them that well. But now, they are my little brothersand we are EXTREMELY close. Its been so great getting to spend so much timewith them. Anyways, I was able to find some pictures from my birthday on otherpeoples cameras and such so I have posted those below. I also put up picturesfrom the weekend of us blowing bubbles, playing soccer, and just goofingaround.  Enjoy!

From the left: Ericki, Jackie, Amani

I LOVEE THESE SMILING FACES

From the left: Jasiri (George), Jonas, Josephine

My pretty little puppy, Pendo-- she's getting big!

BUBBLES!!! 

From the left: Amani, Dorisi, Jasiri (George)

 From the left: Abdalla, Amani, and Baracka

The kids faces as they watched the bubbles float away... I love these pictures 

 From the left: Lucky, Jasiri, Jonas

the boys playing soccer

the other day, we were at the soccer feilds and Lucky decided he was going to do me and Malaika's makeup... WITH DIRT! here is our photoshoot 

Duy, Rachelle, Jordan and me goofing off at dinner Friday night

Birthday!

A few other birthday pictures  

These are my favorite-- the kids made this beautiful birthday banner for me and colored it and everything. It is hanging up on my wall here in my room. On the top right, is my Tanzanian shaped cake and on the top left is me with my "21" 

The kids and me eating pudding and recreating my birthday pictures

 My AMAZINGGGG boys goofing around and making me smile yesterday :)