More photos from Sophie's birthday....

We kept it very low-key...dinner at Pizza Hut, then back to our house for cupcakes and presents. She's into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, so I ordered plastic TMNT rings to go on top of the cupcakes, plus TMNT party blowers and a TMNT mylar balloon. This year I bought a small helium tank at Walmart and it worked out great.

We kept the party small- just us, Lili and her mom, and our friend Nina and her boyfriend Eric. Sophie thoroughly enjoyed herself, and all the gifts. In fact, every single gift she received involved turtles. Turtle tee-shirt, turtle sandals, two turtle books, several TMNT action figures, plus 2 turtle stuffed animals. Her face lit up when she blew out the three candles, and all day long she would say, "I'm big three!"

I can't help but think of Sophie's birthmother and wonder if she thinks of her every year on this day. I wish I could let her know how loved Sophie is, how far she has come, how she loves her big sis.

Late that night when Sophie was sleeping, Kylie and I went on the back patio and let the balloons go up in the air, one at a time. They were for Grandma Ama, Grandma Amy and dogs Barney and Robbie in Heaven.