little miss 6-yr-old

I don't know how this girl that we've known since she was 4 1/2 years old is suddenly 6 !!

As you can see...she hated every second of celebrating her birthday ;)...

It was this past Sunday, and when we came with the cake in the evening this little girl had kept her dress from church on all day long and informed us that she just bathed and had her hair re-braided for her party :) love.her.

Ciara gives so much joy to our days. Her helpful spirit, love and spunky little personality makes the tough moments so worth it.

and boy did we find a winner with this cake! Remember miss Genese who eats no cake....

Yes, that would be cake frosting and crumbs all over her mouth. Pink frosting and sprinkles...how could she say no this time? All that pink did her in. It's a pretty popular color around here ;).

And one more thing about our birthday girl. She loves work. She's still on Christmas vacation from school and asks all the time for work to do. Lately, she really wants to wash clothes.

Since she needs to learn how to do this sooner or later...and the desire is there now...we told her to have at it. It's been a great chance for her to learn things alongside the nannies. Who am I kidding, I can't teach her how to wash clothes by hands correctly. She'll be the one teaching me what I'm doing wrong. It sounds so simple I know. But trust me...it is an art. I have never seen white clothes so white before. And I still don't know how they get their clothes to make that perfect little squish sound each time they squeeze out the water! Sorry...went off on a rabbit trail there.

The nannies wash the girls school shirts while she washes her baby dolls outfits before they go to school (aka table under the slide). She LOVES this. She is so much better than I am. Big surprise there. My first experience with this months after moving here left me with bleeding knuckles and raw hands for days. Machines have nothing on these women. They told me they could tell I must have grown up in a house with a washing machine before I moved here! HA. got me there ladies.

And she still looks adorable doing work, too :)

Ciara, we are so blessed to walk through these years of your life with you. You fill our lives and all of your sisters with so much laughter and joy! You are a great big sister that helps everyone out so much. We are so proud of you and love you! Happy Birthday :)

P.S. -- Please pray for Rosiany and Mariline as they both have the mumps right now. Don't worry...Ciara is on lysol patrol every night and sprays down every room in the house. Sometimes sprays others too in the mean time. Trying to teach her that good smelling disinfectant spray does not equal perfume. ;)