The one from her last birthday : Turning 8 msA

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With Anya turning 9 tomorrow, I think it’s time to share this one from her big day last year. haha. Just one year late, no big deal right;)?. So here it is, just a photo-story of the day my not-so-little Anya turned 8 mashAllah.

Just like every year, I tip toed into her room the night before to set up a birthday morning surprise. Ordered the Happy Birthday foil balloons from Amazon (link – love that they were super easy to blow using the straw they came with) and picked up white helium balloons from Safeway.

Next morning she woke up & changed into the new Zara dress I had ordered from their winter sale and kept for the day. I made her her favorite crepes & berries breakfast that I let her blow off candles from before she ate them.

*This year, she was such a lucky kid to have a pile of deliveries waiting for her to open on the big day, one from her Nadu khala, one from her cousin apas & one from her nani.*

*(I saved all of the sweetest gift receipts and pasted them inside the gifts whenever possible.)*

There are always videocalls **& I DID SOMETHING NEW THIS YEAR** : Made sure to take photos with everyone who video-called to wish Anya & I love those photo memories so much. Expat life means most special occasions are spent far from our loved ones but that doesn’t mean they can’t be a part of our birthday memories. Can’t share more than this but love them so much!

*And the treasure hunt tradition that started with her 5th birthday continued because she loves it. I did tease her for it and made her wait till Bilal got free from his meetings and be a part of it.*

Her birthday gift for this year was something really cool that we found for her online. It was this comic book kit which included everything needed to make your own comic. The best part that it came with a pre-paid envelope to send your project which they turn into a published book to send back to you.

Here’s the link./ here’s a book version too

I honestly didn’t remember what we did that evening but was reminded from phone photos that we went out for dinner to Cheesecake Factory. Will share the simple play-date birthday party in another post.

Thank you so so much for following along all of these years, sending in so much love. Do remember in your duas.

Much love,

Nataliya

ALSO: STORY OF HER 7th / 6th / 5th / 4th / 3rd / 2nd BIRTHDAYS.