In May, we always have a big round of birthdays. Haley, Ben, and Matt all celebrate theirs within a week of each other. It happens again in September, with Andrew and Grace.
Andrew is always happy to combine his birthday with her, because then he doesn't have to wait a whole week to get his presents. He is always gracious enough to offer to do that for us. What a guy.
I was feeling bad about being a boring mother, so we added an activity to this birthday party. We bought some canvas, printed out their names in vinyl lettering, and then finger painted over that. We then waited for it to dry, took off the lettering, and it ended up being a cute finger painted canvas with their names in white silhouette.
Now I just have to hang them all up (it's only been a month... I'm working on it).
***
Matt had been excited all day to share (leftover) birthday hats with everybody. He had them on the front table, ready to go when people walked in the door (except nobody wants to wear them because they hurt your neck and are super annoying), but they humored him anyway.
By the way, that's grandma Jane in the background, trying to escape the picture. I could have cropped her out, but I didn't just for the sake of it.
***
Now, on to the presents. Grace only requested a few things this year, including: makeup (daddy is not happy about that one), a jump rope and hula hoop, and (most importantly -- she reminded me every day) COOK BOOKS!!
She also received a few surprises, like her Harry Potter wand that has an actual light at the tip of it. You just have to wave it, and it turns on. Super cool. She thought so, too, as you can tell.
She also was super happy with her new pajamas and sleep mask (more on that later).
***
Then it was Andrew's turn. He had been really excited to unwrap the gigantic gifts he got, until he noticed that he had a gift the exact same size as the one Grace opened, that had contained the Harry Potter wand. So he went straight for that one as soon as we gave him the go-ahead. I should have faked him out and put something different in there. Maybe next year.
He also got lots of Lego's and Ninjago stuff, which he has since put together and are now sitting on his shelf. (That's our neighbor, David. He lives here, mostly.)
***
Now, for the cake(s). Grace wanted chocolate cake, and Andrew put in a special request for carrot cake. So like the awesome person that I am, I made both.
Grace was in charge of the candles. She put 11 on for Andrew, and 6 on for her. There were some extra in the box, so she put those on the leftover cake, too.
(Notice Matt in the background trying really hard not to help blow out the candles.)
***
And then we went out front to try everything out! Grace and Joey are working on their jump-roping skills.
***
Later, I found Andrew sleeping with Grace's new pink Sassy sleep mask. I'm glad he's confident enough in his manhood to wear this.
