Cold Spaghetti

A bunch of the kids hanging out for some chow at the kids’ table. 

Paul’s Mom and I brought out the cake, and after lighting the candles twice (darn breeze at just the wrong time!), we then had to get Will’s attention to blow out the candles! 

Little man was *in* with the balloons. Really, they were a hit with all the kids. All kids went home with balloons (and at least 8 were lost to the clouds in the process) but Will was the only one obsessed with popping them. 

Evidence that I was there! (I’m talking to Andrea, a friend from my PhD cohort.) Have I mentioned that I’m seriously showing? 16 weeks today! 

When he finally popped a balloon, instead of leaving them alone (as I thought he would do) Will systematically went after every other balloon at the party, popping them one-by-one. Borrowing keys from friend Scott (after a quick lesson in how to use keys to expediate popping) sped up the process. 

Paul and Tim juggle towards the end of the party. Tim is a *very* accomplished juggler and unicycler and provided wonderful entertainment… and helped Paul on his tossing technique! 

Opening presents after the party. This alligator bank was a present from Granna and PapPap (Granna and I found it last year at a special holiday party/museum sale for members at Audubon Zoo!) Will had a great time soliciting “alligator food” from his willing grandparents and watching the coins fall into the alligator’s belly. 

The house was spotless. We all worked our tails off Friday — Paul finished some painting and touch up in the kitchen (that’s right: the unpainted wall and miscellaneous spots are now complete!), I scrubbed the wood floors with water and vinegar, Nancy vacuumed and did dishes, George worked in the yard. We went to bed Friday night in a very beautiful and clean house!

So this morning, we got to take it a little easy. A trip to the grocery store, some other cleaning details (Paul actually vacuumed out our vents and tops of ceiling fans), and started getting food ready. We put Will down for a nap at 11. My parents arrived at 11:30 with the party goods. They brought all the party supplies that are difficult, if not impossible, to find in the city (plates, napkins, streamers, banner, balloons, and helium). My Mom saving the day with delicious food: artichoke dip, egg salad, and tuna pate. We loaded up dishes, cooked what needed to be cooked, set out crackers, chips, bread, fruit, and drinks, blew up balloons, and managed to get everything set up by 1:15. We woke Will up, changed him into his party clothes, and had just started to play when the guests began to arrive! There were a little over 30 people and 8 kids (6 were 2 and under).

The kids had a blast running up and down the ramp on Weezie and Phyllis’s house (our neighbors who graciously allowed us the use of their driveway for the party!) and the kids’ table, staffed by Paul’s Mom, always had little ones sitting down to try out the playdoh. Bubbles were always in the air, the sidewalk got some colorful chalk designs, and everyone was into the balloons. We discovered that Will had a particular interest in balloons… popping them. I was thinking that he’d pop a balloon, it would scare him, and he would stop sitting on them, bouncing on them, trying to eat them, etc. But instead, when one finally popped, he spent a great deal of time popping every balloon he could find. It became very entertaining.

Other entertainment began late into the party: Paul and Tim juggled! Tim was especially impressive (he juggled while riding a unicycle) although it was neat to watch the two of them throw clubs back and forth.

After the party, we retired inside to clean up and watch Will open presents. Will was really excited to find such wonderful gifts (he calls them a “s’prise!”) from friends and family! He had a great time with each gift and it took most of the night to let him open and play with each one.

By all accounts, it was a wonderful afternoon, a beautiful day, and a great party!

Will: covered in paint, fresh from school, hanging out! 

Paul at work, as captured by his Dad. So many folks wonder what the telecommuting life looks like… well, it basically looks like this, except being clean shaven and changed out of pajamas are optional!