[null, null, {"document_url": "http://mamapierce.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-birthday-iryna.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gxTz8AX7o1o/WRxgvcpAt-I/AAAAAAABgtg/WieJ-mN2O68tyOTyf2e5lCHjKszP6uxJQCK4B/s1600/bulgaria.jpg", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gxTz8AX7o1o/WRxgvcpAt-I/AAAAAAABgtg/WieJ-mN2O68tyOTyf2e5lCHjKszP6uxJQCK4B/s1600/bulgaria.jpg", "formatted_filename": "bulgaria", "alt_text": "Help outfit Michael, Sarah, and John", "rendered_width": 852, "rendered_height": 480}, null, {"document_url": "http://mamapierce.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-birthday-iryna.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lIXdbWIHIpc/Ucehie7Hk8I/AAAAAAAAQPU/WXVrfYiMNVY/s320/004+(2).jpg", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lIXdbWIHIpc/Ucehie7Hk8I/AAAAAAAAQPU/WXVrfYiMNVY/s320/004+(2).jpg", "formatted_filename": "( )", "rendered_width": 218, "rendered_height": 320}, null, {"document_url": "http://mamapierce.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-birthday-iryna.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f5egKGpThHA/Uceg1kzppwI/AAAAAAAAQPQ/me8EnjggsRs/s320/1017047_10101255635388582_1385341808_n.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f5egKGpThHA/Uceg1kzppwI/AAAAAAAAQPQ/me8EnjggsRs/s320/1017047_10101255635388582_1385341808_n.jpg", "rendered_width": 240, "rendered_height": 320}, null, {"document_url": "http://mamapierce.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-birthday-iryna.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AEqJBBtDH0Y/Ucefe58IhRI/AAAAAAAAQNo/OYFgD0bRPkw/s320/DSCF2053.JPG", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AEqJBBtDH0Y/Ucefe58IhRI/AAAAAAAAQNo/OYFgD0bRPkw/s320/DSCF2053.JPG", "formatted_filename": "DSCF", "rendered_width": 320, "rendered_height": 240}, {"document_url": "http://mamapierce.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-birthday-iryna.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AuLkZhxHi-8/Uceffm62RZI/AAAAAAAAQN0/c2uMeLIQLSI/s320/DSCF2054.JPG", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AuLkZhxHi-8/Uceffm62RZI/AAAAAAAAQN0/c2uMeLIQLSI/s320/DSCF2054.JPG", "formatted_filename": "DSCF", "rendered_width": 320, "rendered_height": 240}, {"document_url": "http://mamapierce.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-birthday-iryna.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rlk3xl2UOAk/UceffRGGPbI/AAAAAAAAQNw/60ExjUnTr5k/s320/DSCF2055.JPG", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rlk3xl2UOAk/UceffRGGPbI/AAAAAAAAQNw/60ExjUnTr5k/s320/DSCF2055.JPG", "formatted_filename": "DSCF", "rendered_width": 320, "rendered_height": 240}, {"document_url": "http://mamapierce.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-birthday-iryna.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FKUBv09xvYA/UcefvDcVJpI/AAAAAAAAQOI/ziOuhtDXtSc/s320/DSCF2056.JPG", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FKUBv09xvYA/UcefvDcVJpI/AAAAAAAAQOI/ziOuhtDXtSc/s320/DSCF2056.JPG", "formatted_filename": "DSCF", "rendered_width": 320, "rendered_height": 240}, {"document_url": "http://mamapierce.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-birthday-iryna.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4CGpEYjHsXg/UcefupH_L4I/AAAAAAAAQOA/zYYysRmuxLQ/s320/DSCF2057.JPG", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4CGpEYjHsXg/UcefupH_L4I/AAAAAAAAQOA/zYYysRmuxLQ/s320/DSCF2057.JPG", "formatted_filename": "DSCF", "rendered_width": 320, "rendered_height": 240}, {"document_url": "http://mamapierce.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-birthday-iryna.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1B2MeOcgrgE/UcefvPJ9nPI/AAAAAAAAQOM/u1KpPflDR_k/s320/DSCF2058.JPG", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1B2MeOcgrgE/UcefvPJ9nPI/AAAAAAAAQOM/u1KpPflDR_k/s320/DSCF2058.JPG", "formatted_filename": "DSCF", "rendered_width": 320, "rendered_height": 240}, {"document_url": "http://mamapierce.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-birthday-iryna.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_WR1nWDy9P4/UcegpWgnyPI/AAAAAAAAQOc/kviptA-6vKI/s320/DSCF2059.JPG", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_WR1nWDy9P4/UcegpWgnyPI/AAAAAAAAQOc/kviptA-6vKI/s320/DSCF2059.JPG", "formatted_filename": "DSCF", "rendered_width": 320, "rendered_height": 240}, {"document_url": "http://mamapierce.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-birthday-iryna.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_aslZUm4BLA/Ucegp-lrMdI/AAAAAAAAQOk/Zkl9qX56i0k/s320/DSCF2060.JPG", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_aslZUm4BLA/Ucegp-lrMdI/AAAAAAAAQOk/Zkl9qX56i0k/s320/DSCF2060.JPG", "formatted_filename": "DSCF", "rendered_width": 240, "rendered_height": 320}, {"document_url": "http://mamapierce.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-birthday-iryna.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tXo9R8BC-5o/UcegqDr826I/AAAAAAAAQOo/EohvESBEFJI/s320/DSCF2061.JPG", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tXo9R8BC-5o/UcegqDr826I/AAAAAAAAQOo/EohvESBEFJI/s320/DSCF2061.JPG", "formatted_filename": "DSCF", "rendered_width": 240, "rendered_height": 320}, {"document_url": "http://mamapierce.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-birthday-iryna.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5DCxFmkkR0I/UcegrZuardI/AAAAAAAAQO0/-hx9GFq8xNg/s320/DSCF2062.JPG", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5DCxFmkkR0I/UcegrZuardI/AAAAAAAAQO0/-hx9GFq8xNg/s320/DSCF2062.JPG", "formatted_filename": "DSCF", "rendered_width": 320, "rendered_height": 240}, {"document_url": "http://mamapierce.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-birthday-iryna.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_bWUb7xJYA/UcegskK9sKI/AAAAAAAAQO8/4kFbAgQ-blU/s320/DSCF2063.JPG", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_bWUb7xJYA/UcegskK9sKI/AAAAAAAAQO8/4kFbAgQ-blU/s320/DSCF2063.JPG", "formatted_filename": "DSCF", "rendered_width": 240, "rendered_height": 320}, {"document_url": "http://mamapierce.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-birthday-iryna.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qTCqKu1zXYo/UcegskYNzcI/AAAAAAAAQPA/WM-6gwOja2k/s320/DSCF2064.JPG", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qTCqKu1zXYo/UcegskYNzcI/AAAAAAAAQPA/WM-6gwOja2k/s320/DSCF2064.JPG", "formatted_filename": "DSCF", "rendered_width": 240, "rendered_height": 320}, null, null]

Happy Birthday Iryna!

My dear Iryna turned 9 years old! We have now had her in our family for half of her life. What a marvelous change Iryna has made in the past 4 1/2 years.

She has gone from this: Iryna is naturally a happy girl, with smiles and affection for everyone. In school she calls everyone in her class her "friend." She is easy going usually and absolutely LOVES being a helper. If she knows a task that needs to be done, she enjoys doing it. She thrives on being praised and is a fun little girl.

The balloon fairy came last night and Iryna woke up to 9 balloons in her room this morning. (Big thanks to Dad & Suzanne for introducing that tradition to me). Iryna went to church and got to wear a crown in Primary as they sang Happy Birthday to her. She L O V E D it. I was told she didn't want to take off the crown OR go sit down.

For lunch we had our traditional birthday fare of strawberry crepes. We usually have them for breakfast, but it worked out better for lunch. For dinner, she requested spaghetti with meatballs with corn mixed in. That's my girl - she's a mixer. Love it.

Iryna had 6 gifts this year: a stuffed Mario doll (person??), jean shorts - which she refers to as "leggies", DVD Ratatouille, Mario pajamas, a tent that connects to a tunnel and balls to go into the tent and tunnel (see pictures below). My talented friend, Stefanie, made a Mario birthday cake, which Iryna adored! It was a busy and fun day. Iryna was just beaming from all of her positive attention. :) Tyler tried to get her to look at the camera...ha ha.

Happy Birthday, Irynachka! We love you! :D
Articulations by Jill Pierce at 9:54 PM