Happy BirthMONTH.
Because I was stupid bright enough to have both of my kids in April, it tends to be a crazy month for us. This year, though, crazy is putting it mildly.
I thought I’d make things simple and have a combined family birthday party for both of the kids.
That plan totally backfired.
Instead of having two birthdays, this has turned into a month-long celebration. First we had Sam’s birthday celebration at school. And then one on his actual birthday. Then we had their combined birthday party this Sunday. Friday is Kate’s actual birthday, when we’ll celebrate with her class at school and then go out to dinner and bowling. And then the week after that, we’ll have her “friend” birthday party at the skating rink (that is, if I ever get around to calling to schedule it. And then send invitations. So yeah, that’s questionable.). Not to mention, we’re like hemorrhaging money.
Shoot me.
Even though it stressed me out, their party turned out to be nice, and they had a ball. Here are some pictures, taken by my talented sister Anna.
Check out the cake. I made it myself!
Yeah right – we all know what happens when I bake a cake. Actually, I ordered it from our friend Cortney at Sweet Top Cakery!
Isn’t it cute?
And Luanne at Lulee’s Lollies outdid herself this time – the Star Wars characters she made were amazing!
I only have one birthday party tip, but it is a good one – scoop ice cream into muffin tins before the party to avoid craziness when it’s time to cut the cake!
Kate, aka Princess Leia.
Sam’s lightsaber collection was enough to keep all the kids (and some of the adults) occupied.
Kate and Joshua “fighting.”
Jenny’s husband Bobby is an excellent multitasker.
This is my niece Lily reenacting the scene where Vader gets his hand cut off.
Kate takes this all very seriously.
Cutiepie Jonah.
Kate and her Chewbacca lollie.
The birthday boy.
Looking back on it, I guess it wasn’t that bad. But May can’t get here soon enough!
The Nerd is Strong with This One
One of my mom’s closest friends once said to me, “You know, your mom and I used to talk about how we hoped our kids would be just *slightly* nerdy.”
At the time I was in high school and thought that was a classic case of “be careful what you wish for.” I mean, I was more than slightly nerdy. I was the president of the marching band, for the love of God.
Now, though, I have a different perspective and completely understand where they were coming from. Being popular or in the in-crowd is a pretty loaded proposition and comes with a lot of pressure. (Or so I’ve heard.)
Her words stuck with me and I now share that wish for my own kids. However, for the last few years I’ve had the nagging feeling that maybe the dorkiness thing wouldn’t work out for Kate. I worried that because she is so pretty, so smart, and so outgoing, that – despite family tradition and a strong genetic predisposition – she might not have any nerd in her.
I was wrong.
My first hint that things might be going my way happened the other night when I walked in her room to find her reading a bedtime story and marking typos with a red pen.
Tears of pride, people. Tears of pride.
But I have to tip my hat to my husband, who recently solidified her membership into the dork club for life.
He made her a Star Wars fan.
It all started about a month ago, when Andy was home with the kids on what seemed like an endless run of snow days. They were all bored, so he took the opportunity to introduce the kids to Star Wars movies, and when that went well he brought out the big guns – the boxes (and boxes and boxes) of Star Wars paraphernalia (1976-present) that had been living in our garage (and now live in our basement. yay.).
The kids are hooked.
Now I am constantly getting hit with light sabers and hearing fascinating conversations that start out “Daddy, who was See See Tin’s padawan?” It is seriously all I can do not to yell out “WHO CARES???”
My eyes are sore from all the rolling.
My worries about Kate not being dorky enough??
Gone.
Frankly, “band nerd” is the best-case scenario at this point.