How Madison celebrated her 9th Birthday

So on Canada Day 2015, Wednesday July 1st, Madison and Jaclyn had their swim lesson at Kingsgate Pool.  Then we hung out with the Oje boys, and had donuts.
Then the afternoon was spent with the Moore's.  We had lunch at Din Tai Fung (4 orders of juicy steamed dumplings plus other yummy food), spent time at the Lego Store, and then the Microsoft Store.
For dinner, Michael, Jaclyn, Madison and I went to the pool, BBQ'd sausages and celebrated poolside.  It seems that a birthday picture in a bathing suit in front of a donut has become the annual tradition for this little one.

Birthday sign to Madison

artwork done by Jaclyn

Surprise!

Madison's Birthday Wish - to donate her birthday!

The day before Madison's birthday, I had asked her what Madison wanted to do with her birthday.  Does she want presents?  What does she want?  Her reply was, "I want my friends to donate to the poor people who need clean water."
So I created a CHARITY:WATER birthday campaign page for her with the goal of $90, and posted it on Facebook.  Within minutes she got $49, the first donation from cousin, Rachel and then from my friend, Joan.  So we thought, well, $90 might not be a high enough goal, so we raised it to $190.  Contributions started pouring in, even from strangers from FB, and a friend we know from Little Gym gave $100.  She raised her goal to $309 and then to $409.  Donations stayed at $347 for awhile, then the Woo relatives chimed in, and helped Madison achieve her goal of $409.  Currently, $489 has been raised.
100% of the money raised goes to funding water projects in Africa.  CHARITY:WATER is an amazing charity, and has done great things already.  https://my.charitywater.org/madisons-9th-birthday

I am so proud and thankful for Madison's generous and compassionate spirit.  How many 9-year olds do you come across that doesn't want more presents but wants her friends to donate money to the poor people instead?  What a special heart she has!