On Sunday evening, we had 10 neighborhood familes (about 40 people) over for Rita's 7th birthday party. We had dinner (brats & hot dogs with side salads) and a great big birthday cake. The kids seemed to have a fun time running around the backyard, and playing with the new badminton/volleyball toys. After cake, we opened presents! All the kids were really sweet. They were all intrigued by the large pink present in the corner and helped Rita tear it apart... It was a set of children's Ben Hogan golf clubs which Kristin scored at a special Callaway sale in April.

Rita's vocabulary seems to be growing daily. We only really talk to her in english and she seems to understand everything. If we don't understand what she is saying, we will just ask her questions in english and she'll say "Da" or "No" until we get it right.

Here are some examples of her english...

Over the weekend, she was putting on her t-shirt backwards and she quipped "Oh no, wrong way!" and turned it around.

When we were driving to an outlet mall (Stride Rite store, Rachael) she said at a stoplight, "Red Stop. Green Go".

Instead of "Mama, look!" We now have "Mama, look at this!"

And this evening at dinner, I said "thank you" to Michael for something and immediately Rita said (as if to coach Michael what he should say next), "Papa! You're welcome!".