I haven't posted forever! Our computer got a virus and has severely limited my internet time. Hopefully we'll be back in business today. Anyways May is a busy month for us, with Chris, Cai and Cate all only a week or two apart. So Cai celebrated with friends on Friday and then we celebrated Cate and Cai with Grandma's, Grandpa's, Aunt's, and Uncles on Saturday. Cai has been very into Ben 10 lately so he wanted an omnitrix cake (the watch Ben wears that turns him into different aliens). So his party was all about aliens, his friends were the star commanders and we did a comet toss, a rocket race, a Q&A game with space trivia like red light green light, and of course we had to launch bombs at the aliens (water ballons) and each other of course. He had a great time and got lots of loot.
Saturday we went to Cai's last game (they won!). Then off to Pizza Plus for lunch, Casper's for ice cream, and then home to open presents and have cake, our house looked like a birthday bomb went off. Holy Cow we are going to need an extra room for all the loot. Every year we think now why did we think they needed this extra or that extra so they'll have enough. Grandparents, go crazy, Uncle Gabe (who is on leave from Iraq, horray!) went crazy, and the kids definitely had the time of their lives as a result. Cate got the most darling gift from my mom. Cate is named after 7 Catherines in our lineage, one of whom is my mom. So my mom gave her a cut crystal sugar and cream bowl from Cate's great great Grandma Catherine Hayes King. She also gave her a history of her life, and some old pictures of her and the most heartfelt letter it was really sweet.
Thanks to everyone! The kids may get a little (okay alot) spoiled but they really do appreciate what they have. Mom makes sure to remind them about kids in Africa almost daily. In fact Cai almost went for the idea of having a service party with his friends, there comes a point when we just want to celebrate and not necessarily get more toys, so he was going to have his friends bring supplies for the local animal shelter in lieu of gifts, and then he could use it as a chance to give back to people or animals that really need it(family would still give Cai gifts of course). But at the last minute his 6 year old instincts just weren't ready, and I feel strongly that he should have the choice and be then one to decide. Our neighbor across the street did a service party and gave art supplies to the local family support center and emergency nursery. It was an awesome experience for her. Maybe next year.
