stockholm weekend pics, a twelfth birthday

kai turned 12 on saturday!  so crazy how quickly time flies.  he was so excited to be turning 12 and although a part of me feels a bit alot sad that my guy will be entering teenage years in just a year, i also feel excited for him to explore life, to learn, to be happy and successful.

we hosted a party for him.  we invited his favourite friends and their families to hang out with us.  it was so nice to witness this new group of friends in our home to celebrate kai.  it was heart warming and i am so grateful.  when we moved to sweden i wondered how it was possible that we would be lucky enough to find a community of friends like we had at home.  then saturday happened.  we are so fortunate.

i realized at the end of the day that i actually hadn't taken many photos.  i feel a bit sad about that, it certainly wasn't a conscious decision.  i think i was a bit shy to snap away but also wanted to connect with our new friends.  photos or not, kai had a blast.  there was minecraft gaming going on, running around outside in the courtyard, pasta al forno with meatballs made from scratch, such generous gifts were enthusiastically opened, and the most delicious homemade birthday cake eaten - caramel in between layers of chocolate sponge and covered in chocolate icing!  

oh, and everyone sang happy birthday in their native language - hindi, dutch, italian, spanish, macedonian, swedish and english - which was so not synchronized but so awesome nevertheless! 

in his birthday suit :)

 

"kai is twelve"

end of the day selfies that kai took...

there was a bit of melancholy too.  we noticed the absence of our vancouver friends, the ones that have been to each and every one of kai's birthdays.  we missed you so very much and send you lots of love.