Nandry in the Double Digits

Yesterday we celebrated our beautiful daughter's 10th birthday. How has time flown so fast? Parties here in the jungle are more low-key, but we did all we could to make is super special for Nandry. When we were decorating yesterday (Nandry decorated her own cake and made all of the twisted streamers for the walls), Nandry got all excited and said, "Who all is coming?...Oh yeah, everybody." Meaning, the 5 of us plus Jennifer & Heidi our teammates. Often for the boys, we have games and things outside with the Baka kids, but for Nandry there aren't any girls around here her age that she can play with, just boys.
We played games, had cake and home made ice cream, opened presents and had a good time celebrating.
I was so impressed with Boaz and Asher. I let them pick out one present each that they could give to Nandry that I had been storing for the occasion. Little did I know that both of them were way ahead of me and each had already made/prepared something for Nandry for her birthday. Asher was doing some wood working with Nathan and nailed together some flat boards to look like a birthday cake. He also gave her his art project that he had made while we were in our last home school group session. Boaz made Nandry a board game, complete with pawns and cards (but needing dice...he couldn't quite get his ball of tape square enough to work for a die) and created a treasure map that she had to follow to find where he hid her present. Are they not the sweetest? Here's a picture of Nandry hugging Asher, thanking him for his gifts.
The highlight of the night was when Nathan brought in his project that he had secretly made during the last week (with a bad hand, still not strong and bending like is should). Nandry was wild with excitement, but not sure what it was. She thought at first it was a funny looking dollhouse. Nathan had made a bunny cage, and this coming Monday we are going to let Nandry pick out a bunny from a place down the road that raises rabbits. Also on Monday we will go to Bertoua during the day to swim at one of the hotels there, to celebrate and have another fun thing for her as well as a day off for us.

I'm posting more pictures of her birthday party on facebook, so check them out as well!