Lindri Turns Two Today

It was two years ago today that Lindri arrived in this world. This morning, as in other mornings, she was the earliest among us to rise and then slowly woke us all up. It was already seven o'clock, but outside was still dark and we could feel the crisp, chilly air of October, eventhough the heater was still on.
I took out her cake from the fridge (which I bought the day before, with Lindri, at Holtkamp): champagne-raspberry cake. Square, with layers of white chocolate all over its surface and three fresh raspberry on top, softened in color by powder sugar. I put two small candles on top, Dhanu turned the light off and we started singing birthday songs. When it's time to blow the candles, Dhanu helped Lindri who basically only making "foeh" sound from her small mouth.

Then I took out Lindri's present that we've been hiding in the laundry room. Dhanu followed me so he could, again, help bringing the present to Lindri. But then he didn't need to help Lindri in the unwrapping department, because Lindri is already good at it. The present looked like a big bucket, and it is a big paper bucket, filled with wooden forms (blocks in various shapes, colours and patterns). Dhanu also got a small present: a Toa-Nuju, which makes him very happy.
Time to cut the cake! It went all messy but it went down well with Lindri and Dhanu. They fed themselves until they got enough. All of a sudden it's time for us all to dress up and leave, Dhanu to school, Lindri to Doenja (her daycare center) and Syb to work.

As usual, I walked along Syb who had both kids seated on his bike. We first went to Dhanu's school to drop him off, with me accompanying him to his classroom, while Syb continued taking Lindri to Doenja. I caught up with them afterwards, to join Lindri's birthday party at Smurfen (that's the name of her toddler class at Doenja).
Syb stayed for a while until it's time for him to go and I stayed with Lindri, her leidsters Carmen and Yvonne, and her friends. There were about 8 boys and girls this morning. We started up by everyone sitting on the long bench and singing the "good morning" song. Then Lindri got her cheerful paper birthday hat, while we started singing all the birthday songs we know. Afterwards, Carmen brought over a big basket full of presents from which Lindri can choose. There were toys, dolls, coloring pencils, even shoe-strings, but I wasn't surprised that Lindri chose one of three hard cover books from the basket. She right away took it out of the basket and started reading, ignoring the whole basket.

Birthday treat time! I have prepared "goodie bags" to distribute among Lindri's classmates. One rule is that we're not supposed to give sweets, candies, or chocolates. This time I used ang pau envelopes I bought from a Chinese supermarket, bright red with cheerful prints of two children greeting each other. I filled them each with a box of Jip & Janneke yoghurt-covered raisins and a piece of Jip & Janneke magnet.
The kids were still having their glasses of juice and the raisins when I said my goodbye to Lindri. She looked upset and started getting angry, and was still being very angry last time I peeked through the door, leaving her classroom.

This afternoon Ayu came to visit us. I and Dhanu, who got out of school at 12:30, were home already but she waited for Lindri to come, to give her her present. Thanks for everyone who wishes happy birthday to Lindri!

Photo by Yohan, taken from Chica's album.