birthday party

So yesterday we had a birthday party for Griffin at a local park, it's been two weeks since his actual birthday, but there are tons of kid parties at the beginning of September, so we waited awhile.  Here is Griffin with a few of his very good friends:                                                               

Here is our friend Rachel holding Matilda, she just loves to hold babies:

Griffin's ice cream cake:

Towards the end of the party, after most people had gone homeGriffin and three friends couldn't tear themselves away from the rocket launcher.  They had tons of fun:

Overall it was a good party.  We found a park that was centrally located, had good shade and a playground, and we told people to forgo presents and come at 9:30 in the morning, pretty easy for families.  We brought a couple dozen bagels, some cream cheese, veggies, chips, and juice.  We also brought our wagon, and a bunch of soccer balls and park toys, and other kids did the same thing.  Overall there were probably about 25 kids there at most, and they entertained themselves while the adults could just relax.  Much easier than having a party at the house where you have to clean before and after, and figure out activities to entertain the kids

Griffin's Birthday !

Hello everyone,  thanks for hanging in there I know it's been almost two weeks since the last entry, but I'm taking an advanced algebra class and it's monopolizing way too much of my free time.  Anyway here's picture's from Griff's birthday on the 1st.  We'll have an actual kid-party for him this weekend, so stay tuned for more pictures:

He wanted to open presents as soon as he woke up, here he is with a foam sword:

He also got a new puzzle that he loved:

There's plenty more presents but here he is helping to make his birthday cake (note all the shredded carrots)

He also got this cool rocket launcher that shoots air into these foam rockets and causes them to fly into the neighbors yard.  He likes it a lot, and it's something he can load up and launch without help.

Here he is opening up a cool book about a boy that eats books:

Griffin with a new toy, Henry The Talking Gnome from Denise and Andrew.  It records what you say into it and plays it back in a high-pitched voice.  Very cool:

Who is that masked boy?  This was a present from Robin, Brie's mom.  I guess we're all set for Halloween now:

Here he is with the finished carrot cake:                                                                                                   

And of course, blowing out the candles:                                                                                                  

He also got some games like Chutes & Ladders, a Darth Vader Mr Potato Head (not from me, I swear) and a cool building structure that marbles roll down.  It's hard to describe, I'll post a picture.  Also a set of blocks that make castles, and some knights to go into them.  He's a lucky guy.