Birthdays are not my thing. I don’t even like celebrating my own… I’ll usually try to plan a trip or some sort of event to evade the whole situation – ahem, I’m looking at you, Europe ;) but this year, it finally dawned on me that I’m the biggest birthday grouch, and for that I apologize. Life is so worth celebrating, so my dear children, I’m so sorry for all my complaining, come birthday season. I just had to get that off my chest in the hopes I’ll do better with the birthdays to come! This kid asked for a Zelda party, of which I knew nothing… I was never allowed to play video games growing up but I can build you a wicked fort and entertain myself with practically nothing so, we all have our skills. Greg said there were keys to unlock different quests. I took this quite literally and ordered actual keys… to unlock different quests. Turns out, it was figurative but HEY it gave them something to look for and all went swimmingly. Also, literally. They had to swim for them..

Someone had the brilliant idea of hiding just one key in a large body of sand and having a bunch of kids dash around atop it, in search of such things..

I really can’t believe she found it!

Someone also had the idea of hiding one small key in a pool of balloons! Never did find that one… I’m sorry, pool management if it gets stuck in your lawnmower..

SOMEHOW another key magically appeared! These keys were l i t e r a l l y quite the hit ;)

The cutest woman with the CUTEST baby bump <3

“Everyone will know it’s homemade…” she said.

“Why do you say that, Abbie?”

The eye rolls are out of control these days… whyyyy do I feel the need to make sad things? I have a hunch it has something to do with how I show love but I’m sorry if you are a recipient at some point in your life. He’s supposedddd to be an ice chuchu but we had some technical difficulties such as but not limited to, many balloons popping and causing misshappen chuchus.. paper mache not wanting to stick to said balloons, soggy messes and slimy hands, and a little girl constantly questioning how it could be that “Natalie had a perfect unicorn, why does ours look like this??” Sometimes I get ideas. I pictured this being a delightful scene of bonding between Noah and I while the big kids were at camp. Forgot he doesn’t like to get his hands dirty. He won’t even eat cinnamon rolls! For reals! Turns out, they aren’t even to this particular chuchu in the game yet so ALL FOR NOTHING!!! C’est la vie

In other news, I made a specific stop to the BALLOON STORE and if you know me and my hatred of stops, this is a big deal. But festiveness was calling and five lovely balloons were beckoning! By the time Luke arrived, this was the only one left. But whyyy. Heat? I want to know the science. The others exploded and this one looked, well, like this.

Turns out, despite my easy, order-a-pizza-and-go-bowling party falling through at the last minute, I really loved making ugly piñatas and planning games that apparently had nothing to do with the actual game, all for this boy. Maybe I COULD be a party person after all! Maybe it’s just cause he’s pretty easy to celebrate. Luke Blane, I am SO glad you are part of our crazy family. We sure love your confidence and humor and sweet spirit. You’re a pretty great kid. Happiest birthday, little man! We love you!