February 3 Brendan's Birthday!!

Saturday:  I am posting a ridiculous amount of pictures in this particular post--because they tell the story of Brendan's party--almost without words--or at least, very few. 

The "littles" were super happy to see Kaity; it had been several months since they were with each other!

Brendan's party was dubbed: Pizza and video games! Most of the boys gathered in the basement to play the games. I was glad to see so many of Brendan's friends there and how they interacted--it was good. There were two fellas named JUDE (one a long-time family friend) and the other from school. His very good friend, Abel (and his sister, Aurelia) came, as well as Ju-Ju (Jude's sister, friend of family). Joanna (one of Brendan's closest friends) was there too!

Brendan loves video games ...

Here is Cal showing off some of his toys to Kaity ...

Erin and Aidan proving to Kaity that they could quickly climb their glass wall ...

Kaity demonstrated the splits to Erin, who then proceeded to try to do the same thing--she did remarkably well for such a little one! Kaity did clarify, though, that bending the knees was NOT allowed while doing splits.

Erin at the top of the wall giving us "attitude."

These are sweet of Kaity and Erin ...

Kaity, proving she could climb the wall too ...

Dear Aidan (who has lost THREE teeth in the last 2 weeks), climbing the wall. [You look exhausted, Aidan!]

Dylan brought pizza just in time for these hungry party-goers ...

What a nice bunch of kids.

Kelly was in the middle of playing a game of "Settlers" with the girls upstairs while the boys were playing video games downstairs. This is an ice-cream cake that needed to be defrosted prior to eating. Brendan is getting ready to further decorate it.

He kept getting distracted by the conversation going on at the pizza table ...

Look at Kaity's facial expression! We had been here for about two hours and she was ... exhausted! She told me later that the "little kids" wore her out. Ah, yes. Little kids have a way of doing that!

Brendan finally got back to decorating his cake. Kelly says Brendan very much likes to bake and do things in the kitchen. 

Brendan is filling in the top "square" of the cake with chocolate frosting ...

Nice job, Brendan!

Meanwhile, Kaity was pretty intent on throwing this balloon up in the foyer, OVER the wall to the upstairs ...

She made several very admirable attempts ... but the balloon would NOT make the turn at the top to get over the half wall up here ...

Look at Brendan's finished cake creation! That's a LOT of sprinkles to enjoy!

Kaity STANDING and BALANCING on a soccer ball ... you are something, Kaity. Go, Girl!

The little kids played balloons with Kaity and I for a long time. We just blew them up and threw them in the air untied for a long time--zooming around the basement with much laughter.

This is Kaity looking down on me from up on the glass wall ...

This is the "Settlers" game Kaity was playing with the kids upstairs. I'm not sure I have ever played a strategy game like this; however, Dylan and Kelly have a long history of playing these kinds of games with their close friends. I think it's cool that their kids are learning how to play these games too.

It was getting "late" (the party was scheduled from 4-7:00) and it was 6:40, so it was time to light the fancy sparkle candles on Brendan's cake and sing "Happy Birthday" to him.

Brendan tried to blow out the candles ... but ... it was impossible. They just had to burn down by themselves.

Super cool candles! Look how pleased Brendan is!

Dear Cal eating a nice bite of the ice cream cake.

And then it was time to open gifts! I had promised Kaity we would leave by 7:00 (she had plans with friends), so we asked Brendan to open our gifts first.

Here is Brendan opening Kaity's card ...

He liked it! We knew he would!! 

Kaity's gift was a cool volcano set. Cal was so excited ... he kept yelling: "It's an ALCANO! It's an ALCANO!!" So cute.

Here is Brendan reading my card. I love that he READS the cards--some children would not be bothered!

This is the Minecraft set Brendan requested. He looks quite happy with it!

How can you be TWELVE, Brendan?! You are such a dear person. Your Grandma Carol loves you to pieces. 

PS. On Brendan's card envelope, I had written: "Happy 4,383 (approximately) Day!!" This cracked Brendan up. He asked how I could do that math--very simple with the calculator right on my phone. I was trying to take into account Leap Year days ... Brendan was BORN on a Leap Year (his friend Joanna was born February 29 on the very year Brendan was born!), which is why I said "approximately".