Ezra's 2nd birthday party

The party had to be rescheduled once (due to a sick birthday boy), but we were able to attend Ezra's birthday party on August 16th. Our friends' son turned two and they had a fun backyard party for him. The kids ran around and enjoyed themselves (and ate a little) while the adults were able to eat and visit - it was a nice, laid back get together.


Here are Lincoln & Ezra before the water balloon toss...

Noah & Zoey - she's Ezra's sister and I don't remember when I've seen her not in a dress. She's definitely a girlie-girl...even wearing a dress when she comes to play soccer! Cutie.

You wouldn't have known that Noah had a slinky dog (exactly like this one) at home with how excited that he was to play with it...

Ezra is such a sweet little red headed guy.

I didn't get a shot of every kid at the party, but had to snap one of Anna (that I babysit during the week). She was very absorbed with playing with her two animals, and wasn't thrilled with me calling her name over & over to look at the camera. She is so cute about how she loves her little plastic animals - and she rotates through which one comes with her when she gets dropped off (today was cheetah).

The kids getting a look at the birthday cake before we sang...

Leah (who is a great baker, by the way) made the birthday cake and it was a collaborative effort for both her and Claire (our friend) to make the molded dogs on top of the cake. I think it turned out really cute (and yummy!) and the kids simply loved it! I have to say that the chocolate ganache that Leah put in between the layers was to die for!


The cute little mama's boy holding on to Leah's leg while we sang to him...

Blowing out the candles.

And how stinkin' cute are these dog cupcakes that Leah made too?! You can't tell very well from my picture, but they were decorated 3 dimensionally, so it actually looked like the shape of a dog face. She covered marshmallows with the frosting to make the cute snouts. I do think that they were the highlight of the party for many of the kids. I mean, seriously, check out the next picture (of Lincoln) when I set down his cupcake in front of him...
He was quite pleased.

All the kids were pleased. I mean, look - they are all sitting quietly enjoying themselves.

And, since this is my blog & I can post what I want on it...I'd like to include an extra few pictures of my kids before moving on :) Noah licking a bit of the icing...

And a few more of Lincoln enjoying his cupcake without any intervention on my part.



This picture of Drew cracks me up...

Naora - a bit more dainty of an eater than the boys surrounding her...

The birthday boy.


And then it was time for the pinata. What kid doesn't love permission to take a wack at something with a big stick (or adult for that matter)? Here is Welby (Ezra's dad) holding out the cute little pup to be obliterated. You're the psychiatrist, Welby...isn't there something confusing about that to a young kid? Contradicting fundamental basics that we've been emphasizing as parents, I mean. "Don't ever hit!...Always be nice to animals!" (...Except this one - beat the crap out of it!!!) Sorry, I couldn't help myself - it just seems so comical to me. And for those of you wondering, I have absolutely nothing against pinatas - it wouldn't be a birthday party without one in our house!

Lincoln taking a good swing.

Michael (the oldest kid there) taking a turn blindfolded...

And after each of the kids had more than one turn, Claire took it into her own hands to help Drew finish the pinata off...

Present opening time. It wasn't a frenzy - he doesn't seem to be that kind of kid. However, after examining each gift he was excited to move on and open the next one (we didn't have to beg him to stop playing with what he'd just opened and move on like we've done at every birthday party of Noah's).

I enjoyed making a sock monkey for Ezra's birthday gift. Unfortunately I'm still painfully slow at sewing, so it took me a long time to make - but it was fun to give to Ezra. And he seemed to like it, so that made it worth it! I should have taken a video clip rather than snapshots (darn delay on my digital point and shoot) - he made the cutest "0h!" face when he opened it and threw it into the air. You can kind of see a little of that expression on his face in the following picture...
Holding up the monkey.

So, another reason that Claire cracks me up. She bought this toy set for Ezra because the guy in it looks like his dad (Welby). Not something that ever would have crossed my mind to compare, but I suppose there aren't tons of toys out there with red hair and goatees.

What do you think...a resemblance?

Just one more random picture of the birthday boy after the presents ran out and the party began to wind down.

I was sitting on the ground and just held my camera up and blindly snapped this shot of my friend Erin (26 weeks pregnant). Doesn't she have the cutest bump - she doesn't look 26 weeks pregnant, does she?...let alone 26 weeks prego with twins! Anyway, the reason I'm including this picture is for the novelty of its timing...late the very next night after I took this picture, Erin's water broke on one of the twin's sacs! So, I dare say this was probably her last pregnant picture before being admitted to the hospital...
...and this is likely their last picture as a family of 3 before the big hospital surprise. (for those of you that care, I should mention that Erin was able to keep their two little guys "cooking" about another week & 1/2 before going into labor. Though they're obviously still in the NICU, they're both growing and doing great!) Congrats again, McAllister family of FIVE - we're so excited for you!

Last addition...as we were leaving the party a firetruck pulled up and parked across the street, so all the kids wanted to watch what was happening. It was just a drill, but they fully extended their ladder and walked all the way up it - it was pretty cool, especially since most of the kids at this party attended a playgroup tour of Firestation #5 together (same fire station crew even). Nice added bonus to the party, Leah!...do you think you could arrange that for Noah's too?
Thanks for the invitation to the party, guys - we had a great time!