Birthday Fun

We celebrated the boys birthdays here on the weekend. It was busy and noisy and fun. I guess you know you hosted a good party when all the food disappears. (At least, that's what I'll tell myself, rather than say I didn't make enough). I think we had about 40 people come and go and Charley certainly enjoyed the hub-bub. (Sam is a little more puzzled by such chaos. Of course, if he had his way, it would just be me and he, gazing at each other forever).



Chris and I had asked that people bring their pocket change in lieu of presents for the boys. We decided that buying school supplies for kids in Sierra Leone was more pressing than adding more toys to the immense pile the boys already enjoy. I'm delighted to say we raised almost $200 towards the cause. Thanks for your generosity.


The bad news is amidst this busy day, I forgot to take pictures. I put the camera down at the start of the party and never came across it again. Well, you can imagine: kids, cake, many grown-ups with many beers, balloons, spills, wet boots, candles, etc.


Last night, in an effort to elevate myself from "mother who forgot to photograph her sons birthday party", I took the last piece of cake and stuck a few candles in it. Uncle Phil was here as honoured guest and thus, party #2.

That traditional scary moment where one screeches "don't touch that!" thus ruining the joyous celebratory mood:

Charley doesn't quite understand how to blow. It's more of a "raspberry".

Daddy, the blow-hard, helps out. har har har

Success. Please note the other guests, Thomas, Billy and Percy the trains. They are inseparable. (haha, that's funny because the trains are attached with magnets and so.... never mind).

And for activities? Well, you make winter wear for your animal friends out of play-doh, of course. This is not a surprise request coming from an Ottawa child. The mittens on the shark made me laugh and laugh, but I think we've already determined that I'm slightly delirious right now.

Earlier in the day:

Charley loves his trains. LOVES. Scary, stalker-like love. All trains, all the time. Talks about them as he's falling asleep and then runs in, very early, to wake me in the morn asking to see them. The orange and green ones represent the entirety of his b-day gift from his parents and he's quite okay with that.

Sam. Perennially dirty. Perennially cute.

The end. Well, until next weekend, when I'll be forced to do some version of the cake photos with Sam. Candle in a banana? Flashlight in his porridge? I'll work on it...