Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me

As some of you already know I have tried to spend my birthday in a different city every year since 2005:

2005: New York City
2006: London
2007: Philadelphia
2008: Luxembourg
2009: Monrovia
2010: Mbabane
2011: Barberton (South Africa)
2012: Johannesburg
2013: Malkerns (Swaziland)

This year, 2014, we didn't really have time to go far, so our friends Sarah and Armand hosted us at their place in Pine Valley, just outside of the Mbabane city limits.


In the morning, Aviva let me record her singing, in a special outfit from Aunt Jane:

Peter organized our friends to contribute to a delicious Ottolenghi-themed potluck dinner party, and Aviva helped me blow out the candles.  We lit the few lanterns we had leftover from New Year's Eve (and got at least one stuck in a tree.)  It was lovely to be surrounded by family and good friends.  We are very, very fortunate.

Thanks everyone, for a wonderful evening!

A day at Hollybrooke Farms and Aviva goes to the dentist

In early February, we made a quick trip to Johannesburg for the Bruce Springsteen concert.  The concert was fantastic even though I (Callista) spent the first half of it with a terrible headache.  

On Sunday, we went to Hollybrooke Farms with Jessi, Uri, Asher, and Gabi, as well some friends of theirs.  Aviva and Asher climbed on a tractor.  Asher was driving, so Aviva fed him some snacks.

The last thing we did that weekend was go to the dentist.  It was Aviva's first visit, and she did great!

Thanks to Grandpa Richard and Grandma Susan for both of the dresses Aviva wore this weekend!