Belated Birthdays Blog Entry

Many Birthdays were celebrated in May and June.  With the end of school madness and then the rush to sign the kids up for summer camps before they fill-up and getting the kids packed to go on vacation, I just haven't had the time to catch up on my blogging.  

The first birthday celebration was that Jack and his friend Jude. They turned two, but Jack at least, celebrated his "Hap-py Day!!!" for about a week.  He definitely has the whole "blowing the candles" thing down....  Below is the cake I baked for the boys this year.  The theme was "pool party", so I baked a couple of flip-flops.  I used orange licorice for the straps.  My nephew Jayce now wonders why not all birthday cakes come with these....

Yes, we actually used the pool noodles to decorate the table.  This was last minute inspiration just before the guest arrived.  You have NO idea how difficult it is to get six noodles to balance just right inside a gift bag so that the bag does not topple over and land on top of say...the cake? It was an irresistible challenge.

For some strange reason, the two mothers who take the most pictures of their children in the whole world (Tracy and I) were total picture taking slackers this year.  The only pictures I got of Jack smiling are completely out of focus.  I am making it a priority to do MUCH better next year.  Below is the Thank You card the boys will be sending out....  I know, it's been a month already, but better late than never, right?!?

Below are a few random snapshots taken during the party....

"Aunt" Tally, cuddling one of the million babies

(How many "uncles" (Eric & Paco) does it take to untangle the birthday boys' fishing rods?)

In case you were not aware, toddler boys looove fishing in pools.  Their plastic fishies are tied to the lines, so they catch something with every cast :)  As evidenced by the picture below... sometimes they catch each other!

"Uncle" Mike with Lissie & Anna after playing in the pool...

The Aunties (honorary and actual) playing with the babies...

The second birthday celebration was that of Katja, who turned 12 in late May.  She opted not to have a large party this year in lieu of some "choice" gifts.  However, she did invite a few girlfriends over to swim and grill at grandma's pool and mark the occasion. 

The girls made ice-cream sundaes, 

and swam until it got dark and the pool lights came on...  

The third birthday celebration, was that of my nephews Zeke and Baz.  This was an impromptu party we threw together as the boys announced that they wanted to celebrate their birthdays(which are actually later in the summer) with their cousins, for a change.  You see, the boys are always taken on some fabulous vacation trip for their birthdays, and thus, are never around to have a traditional party with cake and all the trimmings.  This year they will be flying to France to spend their birthdays in a castle.... but what they really wanted was a swim party with their cousins.  So, we threw them one.  Zeke is turning four and Baz six.

Baz took some healthy swings at the pirate ship pinata.

Zeke went after the pinata with gusto.

I know they'll have a fabulous time in Paris, but they'll remember wacking the pinata, and jumping into the pool screaming and laughing with their cousins, and eating snow cones and candy until their tummies ached....  and that's a good thing.