Happy #4 Bronte!

Playing "restaurant" with her new food

Her new and improved room -- it's really cute

The easel is a success already

Her requested dinner was chicken,
though she hardly ate a bite


It's really been 4 years since I went into labor on the night of Chris's treasured Diana Krall concert in SLC. So much has changed in our life since then. We lived in Eagle Mountain, certain we'd probably be there for awhile. Chris worked at Evergreen, I tutored at nights. Ravi was just 2 1/2. Shortly after Bronte was born we moved to South Jordan to be closer to Grandma Blakemore. Two weeks after our move we were notified Chris had finally been accepted into the State Department and our lives then changed forever.

Bronte has celebrated each of her four birthdays in a different country -- a trend I'm not sure we'll be able to afford forever, but fun for now. Birthday #1 found us in Washington D.C. Chris studied French 8 hours each day as we prepared for Djibouti. #2 was in Germany as we spent a month-long R&R in Bavaria. #3 found us in Marseille, France, which was extra special since she shares her special day with France's Bastille Day. We watched the fireworks over the ocean and she just knew in her heart they were for her. And this year, #4, we celebrated in Sydney, Australia. Nanny has been with us at each of her birthdays as well, something that we treasure and likewise hope we can continue. Next year? Who knows. We're tempted to hop on a plane to New Zealand...Coming, Nanny?

She had a thrilling day, with Ravi looking out for her all day, making sure she got exactly what she wanted. We spent the day at Clown Town, an indoor play center, where the kids wore themselves out. That night we enjoyed a birthday dinner of homemade chicken, cake, and strawberry ice cream. We decided to liven up her room a bit with the help of IKEA and it turned out really cute. She's still a bit confused about how long her birthday lasts and how long she'll be four, but I think she's finally got it figured out. If you ask her she'll say "I'm still 4!" and that she gets to be 4 until her next birthday when she turns 5.

Thanks, Bronte, for being part of our family!