Gabriela's 4th Birthday Party

The party started at 4:30 which is exactly when the thunderstorm started.
But the sun (and the fun) weren't far behind. 

This was Gabriela's second 4th birthday party... the first party was a couple weeks ago in Haiti with our friends there including Marie France, Gabriela's birth Mama.  How cool was that!!!!!!! For the Winnipeg version...most friends came from the neighbourhood, Zavi came from across the river, but  Brian and Robin came ALL THE WAY from Haiti.  Thanks everyone for coming to the parties.   There was painting, planting, pinata, and cake. Yep! Matt/Papa made a fresh strawberry shortcake and it was beautiful 

and as good as Epi d'Or : )   

We are slowly adjusting to Canadian food. . . now that it's finally getting fresher!!!! It was physically and socially harder to grow much of our own food in Haiti,  although most Haitians do it just as seemlessly and consistently as brushing one's teeth.   Our front yard garden here in Winnipeg reminds me of a Haitian garden which always reminded me of a little ecosystem: small, with lots of different kinds of crops, insects, beautiful to look at.  For 5 years we thrived off the harvest of Haitians farmers.  God bless Haitian farmers, young and old.