Yes, it's a PARTY!!!

It was just about that time of the year when a certain boy turns a year older and friends come out of the woodwork carrying presents to attend a party.

Since Aaron had to fly out of town on Adam's REAL birthday, we took him to lunch before Aaron's plane departed. He asked us if his best friend Thomas could go. (For those of you who know about Adam's OBSESSION with trains over the years, it makes sense that he would bond quickly with a boy named after his favorite train.) We took the three kids to Applebee's (Adam's choice of all the ones he could choose from) and enjoyed a FUN, if not ROWDY time together. You can tell from the first photo that they seated us near a group of older ladies. I am sure they came to regret their decision to choose a booth in the "FAMILY" section (especially in the state in which we live) since the noise level was HIGH!!! Adam and Thomas laughed so hard that Adam actually puked!!! For those who know me well...this was highly DISCONCERTING!!! Once someone else "hurls", I usually do too. Thank heaven I was spared this time.

After the food was devoured and the employees' sang to our son, we drove Aaron to catch his flight out!!! Adam was so glad to have had the morning and lunch time to enjoy his birthday with us as a family (plus one friend). It was a fun day with a sadder goodbye at the end.

We planned Adam's REAL Birthday Party for the weekend following his lunch date and had 14 kids (mostly boys) of various ages and ENERGY LEVELS decend upon our backyard for 2 hours of cake, pinata, water balloons, and slip-and-slide. It was fun to see how the parties have changed over the years from sedate events with a few little kids to VERY ACTIVE celebrations with LOTS of activities, food and fun! (Oh and don't forget the water that always manages to drench me...THANKS, Aaron!)

Thank heaven we have a backyard that is big enough to handle any size crew!!! Although being pregnant in the summer with Adam in Texas was SO HOT, I am glad that we get to celebrate his birthday outside each year...it truly suits his active and energetic personality!!!