Boys' Birthday Party

Yesterday, we celebrated the boys' 3rd and 5th birthdays at a joint birthday party, just as we have done for the past three years.  And, just like the past three years, nothing went exactly as planned :)  Our original party was supposed to be on Saturday in our BFF's backyard, but a gloomy weather forecast convinced us to postpone the party a few days.  Unfortunately, this week turned out to be the chilliest, rainiest late March that we've had since moving to Birmingham, and it was still rainy and cold when the new party day approached.  So we gave up on an outdoor party and were graciously allowed to use our church's facilities instead.  We set up basketball goals, soccer goals & the church's bounce house in the cleared auditorium, and enjoyed pizza and cake in the largest children's classroom.  The kids had fun kicking the soccer balls around, shooting hoops, bouncing, and playing some group games like Duck Duck Goose, Red Light Green Light & Simon Says.

We were very excited to have all the Wagner cousins in town for the birthday party: Chase & Kylie Wagner and Maddie & (newborn) Dallen McGough.  (Extra kudos to my sister-in-law Traci, who braved the trek from Florida to here in the back of Mimi's minivan with her 22-month-old and 3-week-old.)  There were fourteen children in all at the party, including the birthday boys.  Both Caleb and Ethan had a great time with no meltdowns, though Caleb did get a tummy ache from too much juice toward the end and elected not to play one of the running games.  And Caleb (ever the cautious one) did not want to get close enough to the fire on his birthday candles to blow them out alone, so Daddy and I helped him out.  Ethan's favorite part of the night was eating cake, and Caleb's favorite part was opening presents.

 Aunt Traci with 22-month-old cousin Madelyn.

 Cousin Kylie Wagner

 Uncle Mike (Marcus's brother), who I could never catch on film without his iPhone :)

 Caleb, grinning in his superhero-themed T-shirt.

 Singing "Happy Birthday" to Caleb

 

 

 Ethan's turn :)

 

 

 Some guests: Brian & Ethan, Lena Ann & Mary Grace, Caleb & Ethan, William, Jackson & Addison, Lydia & Matthew

 Ethan's favorite part: the cake.

 

 Mimi Wagner with Baby Dallen & Aunt Traci

 Playing Simon Says

  Caleb's favorite part: opening presents