Happy Birthday month to Easton and Layla! The party was a big success as we more firmly cemented the correlation between birthdays and cake for the twins. Easton was impressed by see-through silverware as well as his cake and ice cream.
Layla's overly hyped expectations provided a high benchmark for us to shoot for. We clearly exceeded them by surrounding her with friends and neighbors who poured out love and attention for her.
It's a long story how we got to the magical cake eating moments of the party so I'll rewind a few hours. Ouma and Oupa arrived late Friday night due to flight delays and Oupa's golf clubs didn't arrive the next morning. Not to worry... They were hand delivered to our front door.
Saturday morning greeted us with storm clouds and rain confirming our forced cancellation of the outdoor cul-de-sac block party. This may have been the first weather related party cancellation I ever experienced in Phoenix. We decided to go ahead with the party as an indoor event as long as the pediatrician cleared Easton and Layla of contagious sickness.
While waiting for the pediatrician we had a real-life Nemo experience thanks to the cool fish aquarium. We pointed out all of the characters except the puffer fish. They were much smaller than I expected, but it kept the twins busy for several minutes. Layla did tap the glass like Darla did in the movie, but we quickly reviewed the rules of fish-watching and didn't have any more trouble.
The pediatrician said Layla's fighting a bacterial something and Easton was contagious with flu symptoms. Then the car battery died and Kendra drove to rescue us with the jump start. Things improved dramatically after the rough morning though. We called around and told the party attendees of Easton's sickness and everyone shrugged their shoulders and came anyway. Everyone was forced to sign a disclaimer upon entry to our house that we are not responsible for any sickness resulting from entering the premises. Just kidding... We're not psycho, just wanted to tell people and give them full information before coming over.
The ladies had a great time even though it was a lot of work putting together the meal and party. We have Ouma, Mary, Sheri (neighbor), Kendra and April.
The other lady not pictured is Marisue who was otherwise occupied with her own twins. I think that's Dean, but she'll have to correct me on this one. Kendra hung out at their house a time or two so she's had much more interaction with them than I have.
Layla was fully decked out in Rapunzel-wear including the necklace that makes a harp noise when pressed. Layla Ruth made herself at home and joined the princess dress-up.
She makes a very convincing Cinderella, don't you think? Ready for the ball, but stuck sweeping the floor...
After playing some games and eating the meal it was time for cake and ice cream. Kendra went all-out on the cake thing by going as far as following directions from an online video. The castle cake tastes as wonderful as it looks. The towers are sugar cones covered in frosting and rolled in sugar crystals. The clouds around the edge are cotton candy.
Easton's cake is a space shuttle complete with 3 candles at the bottom which looked like rocket boosters when lit. Easton did what every 3-year-old does to a birthday cake... spit all over the back half while trying to blow out the candles.
Then came time for presents. Can you SEE the anticipation on their faces? Talk about obedient children. We could have told them to do anything and they would have agreed and complied immediately because of the carrot dangling in front of them.
The present opening time was much less orderly than I expected, but still tons of fun for the twins. They were ripping and tearing so fast I had no chance to get pictures of everything. Occasionally Layla would calm down long enough to say, "Thank you" to whoever gave her a gift.
The gifts they received were awesome and we really appreciate the well-thought-out choices.
Easton's gifts were perfectly focused on what he enjoys: Trains, dinosaurs, rockets, and... a Nerf gun?
This is what happens when you give a 3-year-old a Nerf gun and 30 seconds of instruction on how to use it. He peppered our vaulted ceiling with suction cup darts.
Layla's gifts were mostly princess related and exactly the kinds of things she enjoys the most (drawing, learning, dress-up, jewelry). Here she is showing me her new special bracelet made by Amy
Although Easton is excited about using his new Crayons to color his new dinosaur coloring book, his facial expression means, "Dad, my nose is running... please wipe it before the snot goes in my mouth."
As a parent you really have to learn to read between the lines. :) Being sick for their birthday is a bummer, but we clearly made the best of the situation we were given. Hanging out and spending time with those who are a part of Easton and Layla's life is what it's all about. Lucky for us, Easton and Layla have happy hearts even in the midst of not feeling well.
All it takes is a little creativity to have fun and a lot of compassion and hugs to get them through the sick days. Adding Ouma and Oupa to our daily mix is very comforting for Kendra and I. Just knowing they are paying attention to the twins makes it 100 times easier for me to focus on other non-kid-related things... like replacing the car battery (thanks for teaching me, Oupa).
See you soon!
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