Monkey-B Turns 8 Years Old 👧🎁 A Hive Birthday For A Hive Family 👨👩👧👧
Our options were very limited for birthday fun, so we decided the best we could was let Monkey-B make all the decisions for the day.
So Proud Of This Girl 🙌
It seems it was just a few years ago Monkey-B could barely speak Cambodian, and now she's fluent in English, and even knows her way around a smartphone. In the above photo she is sending a thanks for the birthday wishes to her Grandma in the USA.
A Halva For Monkey 🥕
In Cambodia, we would've made a cashew cake for this occasion, but in Suriname just finding produce of any kind is a major success. I had a bag of carrots, and that's about it, so I decided to make carrot halva for the birthday girl. It's basically just cooked carrots with cardamom, coconut milk, coconut oil, and palm sugar.
The Big 8 🎱
On this special day I told Monkey-B I am sorry for the situation we have faced for the last few years, but I'd do my best to make her birthday a blessed one. I told her I would pretty much say yes to anything within reason, so all she had to do was call the shots. When to eat, what to eat, to play or not play, watch a movie, I just spent the day saying "yes" to everything. There is no gift more precious than time.
🔥 Un-Candles For An Un-Cake 😂
You all probably know by now that I'm just a silly goose that likes to think on his toes. Well, no candles, no cake, no problem. Just jam 8 matches into a tofu fritter, turn sideways, ignite, and tell Monkey-B to blow them out quickly before they die on their own. It actually worked, much to my surprise, and I think we were all kind of mystified by how well it went.
So many conspiracies abound these days, but I'm seriously beginning to believe the birthday candle industry has pulled the wool over our eyes for far too long. No longer will I support the international birthday candle mafia and their hot wax, because blowing out the matches is now a family tradition from here on out.
Okay, it was a little anti-climactic, there's no definitely no time for the happy birthday song with matches for candles, and you've only got three seconds to blow them out before the universe does it for you. The irony of the whole situation seems rested in Monkey-B's eyes.
🦘 Jumping Into 8 Feels Great
She chose to wear her favorite dress on this day, and she was extra cute jumping for the joy of having her family at her beck and call for a whole day. One of the first questions I was asked of which I had to say yes to was "Dad, can I fart here?" You can imagine how the rest of the day went....
Pov practiced her couch-based dance moves while Monkey-B played Connect-4 with Srey-Yuu. We watched some movies, a friend came by, but otherwise I just said yes to everything Monkey-B proposed. The greatest gift of all is that we'll be a united family in Cambodia for 2022.
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Happiest Birthday, Monkey B!
I guess the best gift these days are good health and a happy, complete family. She got those.
And look at that appreciative smile. 😍 I love the match idea.
Ahmmm, farty? 😂🌬️🎇
If we can't party, then let's get farty!
I didn't think anybody was going to the read the fartsy details, thanks for the eagle eyes, hope I made you laugh. Matches are now the official birthday candles of this family moving forward.
Happy 8th Birthday to Monkey B. May she continue to be blessed all throughout her life.
That just looked like a really fun day, and that was really creative of you to do that without a cake.
I really love what you said here and I agree with you because sometimes we take our time for granted.
May you all have a great month ahead!
Give thanks my friend, I think most folks in the west value money over time, and this has always made it hard for me to feel at home in the USA, even though it's where I was born. My parents worked too much when I was a kid, and they were almost never home, but I would've preferred to have been a little poorer and spent more time with them. Financial wealth is only one kind of wealth, but Cambodians possess much more social and familial wealth.
That really made me think a lot. If ever I have a family in the future, I would like to adopt that kind of style. You are really right that social and familial wealth is really important, especially when you're raising children. That's the best time to teach them about values because financial wealth can always follow.
Thank you so much for telling me this! Have a great Month ahead!
!PIZZA
Give thanks my friend, sending good vibes your way.
Happy birthday and god bless you.
Give thanks for the birthday wishes, blessings back to you from us in Suriname.
Besides the circumstances, I bet Monkey B had a great birthday. What you can offer her is worth more than any material gift and tofu critters and match candles sound pretty cool 😁 .
Thanks for the kind words, we actually got a kick out of the matches idea although the house did smell a bit funky for a few minutes after.
Your kids are growing up to be so cool. You don’t need to feel guilty. I had a perfect childhood and it fucked me up so bad. The best parents can do is provide love and guidance, and to keep themselves together when they are needed. The fact that you can play and laugh with them despite your tough situation, they’re blessed to have such parents.
Oh and happy birthday!
Thanks, that means a lot, we kind of live in a bubble, so outside insight is much apprecialoved. Sometimes I fake not being stressed so as not to expose my kids to the look on my own parents' face so often when I was young. What's cool is that eventually this feeling becomes genuine if I stick with it, so I am ultimately the master of my emotions. Thanks for the birthday wishes, perhaps Monkey-B should hop in and respond to birthday wishes....
Yeah, I get the bubble thing. Most people are in them but even if you are aware of them it's hard to see outside. I never raised kids so I don't know.... but I think the fact that your effort to give her a good life, to give yourself a good life and also your respect for her will always be more important than coming across as anything other than what you are.
Speechless, thanks my man, this comment is truly uplifting.
😀
INTERCOMMUNITY - HIVE - AFFILIATE team.
Thanks for the support 🙏.
Happy birthday to your amazing daughter!
She is growing into a young lady, still not ready for her big sister to become a teenager for her next birthday.
Happy birthday 🎉🎈
Another earthstrong in the Monkey-B history book.
So true! I am saying this to adults too, these days.
I also like to think that having time for something or someone is a question of prioritizing it or them ( although that is often easier said than done ).
Give my birthday wishes to your ( not so ) little girl, who is - apparently - older than my two eldest nephews ( the one in The Netherlands will be 8 tomorrow, Miko's 8th bday is on January the 1st ).
Big hug to an awesome dad and his family
One of your nephews is only a few days younger than Monkey-B. When I get back to Cambodia, I will say "yes" to adults, but I think if I tried that in Suriname I'd find myself without a roof and no clothes on my back.
Thanks for the birthday wishes, I will relay it to Monkey-B.
Better that you save that then till you're back in Cambodia ;<)
You're welcome, my friend! :<)
P.S. I also sent a bit of Hive to the kidsisters wallet. It's up to you what to do with that. Probably not worth much more than some crappy fruit in Suriname ;<)
I made sure Monkey-B and Srey-Yuu saw that today, not sure if they sent you a thank-you of sorts. Much apprecialoved knappe man.
Yes, I received a thank you reply and was mentioned in a kidsister's birthday post. Your girls rock, knappe vriend! :<)
Happy Birthday Monkey B🎂🎂🎂 Celebrating your birthday is a gift itself. So be thankful. And to you my friend it"s okay even theres no cake,candle or whatever it is. There just only a props anyway. The most important thing is that you made your Monkey B happy on her special day.
So true, it's the though that matters most, and I am thankful our daughters understand that and have no feelings of jealousy when comparing their lives with those of Suriname children. All in all, Monkey-B was happy, and she prefers our time more than anything we could buy and give her.
Your so lucky to have a daughter like Monkey B who understand already on what you are facing right now😊😊😊
I wish your daughter a happy birthday @justinparke
even though the cake is simple but looks special
Thank you, I will relay the message and perhaps have Monkey-B respond to birthday wishes herself. She knows her way around the keyboard.
thanks you so much
Happy birthday @monkey-B🥳
8 years old and already HODLing.
hope he is always healthy, and have a nice day☺☺☺
You bare such an amazing dad you mada
Her dy great. Happy birthday to your dear daughter
It was a special day full of laughs and improvisation. Thanks for the birthday wishes. Monkey-B has seen them all, but is overwhelmed at the thought of typing all the replies 😁.
Happy Birthday Monkey-B,
You are such a beautiful and happy child and I pray that you grow well and continue to enjoy bliss.
She certainly knows how to enjoy life, and teaches me how to live life for the moment every day.
That's the best way to live life.
Monkey B's birthday just cheers me up so much. I wish someone made me a fried tofu cake for my birthday. It's everything I could want in a cake.
I glad she had such a joyful day.
Matches instead of candles are now a family tradition. Telling her I was going to say "yes" to everything was almost a mistake, but luckily she didn't abuse these privileges.
It was enjoyed day! I hope we will happy more when we are in Cambodia.
Better days are on the horizon, just a matter of weeks now.
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Can I fart here? hahahahahahahaha This made my morning!
Of course that would be the part you liked the most. Monkey-B seemed to think she was a genius for making this her first question.
Wow.. Monkey B is 8. When she finally gets back to Cambodia, She is going to be so thrilled that her life is a lot better than it is at Suriname. Tofu fritters.. yummy.. One of the best things to eat. super duper crunchy.. Her dress is indeed cute.. It's great to share moments like these cause kids grow up really fast.. They won't be jumping around anymore once they are in their adulthood some day which is quite sad. =) Enjoyed reading this happy post.... A really cool birthday cake.
Thanks for stopping by, improvisation is a good skill to have in times like these. Monkey-B is certainly going to appreciate what we had in Cambodia more than ever. I am glad there will still be a few more years of happy jumping left.
Hi hi.. Justin... it's a Friday again.. a couple of days after Monkey B's birthday.. I saw her picture when she was pretty tiny on your wife's post.. So cute.. those big eyes.. hahaa.. kids.. fun when they are small.. always entertaining to see.. them explore the world..
Monkey-B used to be a perfectly round meatball of cuteness. Luckily the cheeks from those days still remain with her for easy pinching.
Hahahaha.. it's quite sad sometimes that kids grow up and have hard cheeks... Then can't be pinched anymore... I wonder why kids have such soft cheeks but many adults have harder cheeks.. hahaha.. 😁😁😁 but no matter what her memory is gonna be there forever in your mind... Parents never forget what their kids used to look like.. hahaha.. have a great day.
Oh my! I am late! Eventhough, I am late. I will still greet Monkey-B!
Happy happy birthday dear cutie little girl! You look so cute and happy with all those improvised cake. Much happier when jumping as she wears her favourite dress. 🥰
Much much more joy and love when daddy Justin say Yes to everything. ❤️🥰🤗
Such a lovely and unique birthday celebration of the lovely family. ❤️
Thanks for the birthday wishes. At first she wanted to take on the responsibility of replying to all birthday wishes herself, but she was overwhelmed with the sheer amount. I'm not sure if I will do the "say yes to everything" birthday in the future, but Monkey-B certainly enjoyed it. I guess it's a chance to see how much your children will take advantage of you when given the opportunity. I think overall Monkey-B took it easy on me though.
You are most welcome! 🥰
I will surely be overwhelmed just like Monkey-B if there are lots of greetings and wishes she received. 😋
In the name of love you can yes to your daughters and family. 🥰