Ayyam'i'Ha and Eowyn's Birthday

Last week was hectic.  Since this year really felt like the first chance to really start to share the Baha'i holy days of Ayyam'i'Ha with the kids, I felt a lot of pressure to do it right and really think it all out.  I had planned a big party to celebrate Ayyam'i'Ha and Eowyn's birthday, but scheduled it mid week when we normally get together with the other moms and tots.  I also wanted to start establishing some family traditions for Ayyam'i'Ha so that it really felt like more of a special time.  Now that Liam is 3 he definitely is really aware of things and able to start to understand what's happening.  So with that in mind, there were presents to get and wrap, food to prepare, the house to clean, and decorations to put up (plus a regular work week!).  So it was a bit busy, but overall I felt, at the end of it, that we finally did manage to make it feel like a special time.  Over the next years I hope we can establish a more clear family tradition and do a bit more on the service side of things, but a start is good enough for now.

It was also so interesting to keep remembering just a year ago at that same time, being very pregnant and overdue, and then going into labor and of course, Eowyn's birth.  So lots of things collided into one full week.

On the eve of Ayyam'i'Ha we set out a beautiful tray of colorful candles (19) and lit them while we said the special prayer.  Each evening we relit them, and we had flowers and of course Mr. Sears playing in the background a whole lot.  Liam really loved that!  Sometimes our family time was a bit rushed because of James' full work days, but we managed to have a bit of family time each day, and a little time for gift giving.  The kids got something each day, sometimes something small (a watering can for Liam and a "new to her" pull toy for Eowyn), and other times a bigger gift - Eowyn got a sweet cloth doll on her actual birthday, and Liam received some MORE train set bits.  There was a muddle of extra stuff from other people too, because of Eowyn's birthday, so in looking back, it may have been a bit too much in the end, but Liam did finally get a bike, which we've been wanting to get him for quite a few months.  He is SO excited about it.  It's a push bike at the moment, but the cool thing about it is that it has peddles we can attach for when he's ready.  We were so psyched to find it.

Here are some pictures from the week:

Sunrise and snow - First day of Ayyam'i'Ha

Eowyn was over-tired, but lighting the candles for the eve of Ayyam'i'Ha

First day gifts - a watering can for Liam, pull toy for Eowyn, a frame for James, and a trip to the Maldives planned for the whole family for spring break!

Eowyn's birthday - she loved the wrapping, and was fairly indifferent to the cute doll inside 

Ayyam'i'Ha Party in procress - my massage room became the dining room for the kids (very sweet to see them all gather around a table!) 

Trying to get Eowyn to look up by enticing her with food - it clearly didn't work!

Kids eating - Drake, Stirling, Isla, Sam, Amadeo, and Cassidy (not in the picture: Calvin, Jamison, Grayson, Eowyn)

We sang happy birthday for Eowyn and she quite enjoyed it, though the cupcakes went to everyone but her!   

Cupcake eating is serious business.  I wish I had caught Cassidy putting her face in the icing!

The big gift day for Liam - he finally got his bike and couldn't be more excited!

We had to move it on the balcony because he kept trying to ride it in the house

Sibling Love - talking to Michael L. on skype