Yesterday was the boys' 5ht birthday party. This year represented the first year we invited the boys' friends rather than our friends' kids. We invited the whole preschool class (15 other kids besides the boys) plus music class friends (3 more kids) plus our neighbors (5 more kids). So many people did not RSVP that we weren't sure of the numbers when we set up for the party (and bought all the favors, etc.) so we just assumed everyone was coming. There were a handful of folks that didn't come so it was a pretty full party. As has been the case for most of the boys' birthday party days, it was sunny, unbelievably so. I think it was over 80 degrees! We had planned to have the party in the backyard so no rain was a good thing. We set up tents in the back part of the driveway for shade and to also designate where folks could sit/eat, etc.
My mom was down for the weekend and we had planned to have her take the boys out for coffee after I got back from the farmer's market so that we could get more done and also so they could come home and be surprised at how the house/yard had been transformed for their party. No such luck... the boys were so excited they just wanted to come home as fast as possible (they had stayed up until after 11 the night before because they just couldn't fall asleep). My mom did a great job of getting them to help (they loved helping and it also gave us time to get other stuff done) - they set the tables with the party wear, they helped my mom hang the posters, they helped put the balloons around - it was great. And the best part - they were so proud of the results. Luckily, that also helped to keep them busy as the time slowly moved along (to them; to us, of course it was flying as we were trying to get everything done before the guests arrived). Eventually, the first guest arrived.
I was so happy to see the boys so happy. They got excited each time a new person arrived. They showed them where they could go pick out their cape (with their initial) on the fence (or sometimes, they got the cape for their friend and gave it to them). Then they ran around and played. That was the part I was most worried about - the 30 minutes before Iron Man arrived which was unplanned time. It actually went really smoothly - the kids play so well together and had fun just running around.
Iron Man arrived and the kids were excited when he came to the back yard. He was a very tall man so it made Iron Man seem more "real", I think. What an energetic, fun person he was. He got the kids playing games with him and they stayed enthralled the whole time. He was there a full hour and it felt like plenty of time. Near the end of the time, he did a magic show and had S come up first to help him. S was glowing, smiling so big and hamming it up. So typically S - just so free with his smiles and emotions. After S, he had N come up... such a contrast. N's smile is so huge when he shows it; it is just that he's not so free with his emotions and not as comfortable being in front of a group like that. He still did great and I think had a fun time.
After Iron Man departed, it was time for the kids to eat. Uncharacteristic of our parties, we actually ran low on food. I think some of the parents were surprised we didn't have special food to bring out at that time for kids. I kind of wish I had although I originally thought that the mini muffins, cheese sticks, fruit, and Porto's sandwiches would go over for the kids as much as for the adults. My mom also made some bacon wrapped dates stuffed with cheese that the adults seemed to like. Then we brought out the cakes. This year, I gave them the same figurines so essentially their cakes looked the same - they each had an Iron Man figurine and also a Mata Nui Bionicle. Both boys seemed very happy with those. It was funny because since this was the first party with their friends from preschool and not our twins' club friends and folks that had been to the other birthday parties, I think everyone was a little surprised that they were singing happy birthday twice and that there were two cakes.
After the cakes, the kids went back to playing with each other - running around, playing ball, etc. The boys were pretty much spent at this point and went inside and hung out with their older cousin. They didn't even want to say good-bye to their friends. Once a couple people started heading out, most folks followed. We then cleaned up (my SIL is amazing!) and then got the boys into nap. They were both so tired. N woke up earlier than his brother and kept looking at all the presents on table. He sooo wanted to open presents but we wouldn't let him until his brother woke up. As soon as S made a peep, N ran into his room yelling come on S, let's open presents! So, they did. As my mom said, it was better than Christmas! So many things - so many nice things. The parents were so very generous and picked out some great things for the boys. We had a quick easy dinner of leftovers, got the boys bathed, let them watch the rest of Monster's Inc with my mom and off to bed. But again, they took so long to fall asleep. But who could blame them - what an exciting wonderful day for a 5-yr old!
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