James Turns Four, Take Two

because the real title, "Why must a three year old ALWAYS spoil it for me?" seemed too long. I have visions, people. Not the hallucination kind, but the kind where I put in a lot of effort and I expect all beings under the age of 100 to do what I say. Ha!

Vision for James Superhero Birthday Party? Red capes attached to custom superhero shirts and "power wristbands" as modeled here by a kid who does what he's told. (I am laughing OUT LOUD while I type this...). I saw 12 little kids all flying around JW Tumbles like little superheroes. I saw them beside themselves with JOY at the mere idea that they would get to keep such a great party keepsake.

Meet Patrick.

Patrick does NOT want to wear said superhero shirt & cape.

You will be able to spot Patrick in every photo because he is wearing the yellow shirt he came in.

Patrick obviously has it out for me.

Here's the flying I mentioned.

and here's Patrick... in YELLOW.

James and Mae. Please note you-know-who in the background.....

At LEAST I am still the boss of Molly.

She wore her special baby cape (blue & shiny) all party long. Good girl.

Fun superhero activities...

Again, Patrick NOT doing the event everyone else is doing, but climbing a wall... in YELLOW.

See how this photo could have been so much better????

Amazing cake by Susannah. And "yes" to the first question always asked - it WAS delicious!

Happy Birthday was sung. Cake was eaten....

... and then James hit a wall.

Possibly literally and figuratively.

This was before we even left the parking lot.

Happy birthday big guy.

Next year, let's only invite people who do what I say.... okay?

James Turns Four, Take1

OK, now let us go back to last month (I am SO behind!)... Oma & Opa came up for a visit and James' birthday/Father's Day (same day this year). The National Portrait Gallery was on our "must do before we leave DC" list so we hit that after a delicious lunch at Gordon Biersch.

James is REALLY into "smushing pennies." I actually own about 10 years of smushed pennies and a penny passport so it must be in his blood.

Mesmerized by books and snacks and TV.

James wanted to go to "the Air & Space Museum, but the OTHER Air & Space Museum" for his birthday. Roughly translated, this is the Goddard Space Center which we had already been to once. I warned everyone about its underfunded-ness and limited working exhibits, but everyone actually had a good time and Molly sat through a movie, on a spinning globe. Wonders never cease.

This is the real reason James wanted to go there. A space capsule with all sorts of knobs and switches and a window "to look for aliens." Uh, too much TV, anyone?

Oma in space...

Molly takes in some galaxies...

...and gets head lice. (JUST KIDDING!)

James opens a well-themed gift: a solar system that hangs on his ceiling complete with orbiting planets and a moon that goes through all the lunar phases.

BUT the highlight of the birthday gifts... this old-school Pac-Man video game "system" from our friends, the Bruces. He was hooked.

it was actually very popular with everyone....

and I mean, everyone.

Happy birthday little buddy.

(and thanks for the visit Oma & Opa!)

Farewell Party

Big, big, BIG farewell party from our Pitt Mews neighbors before we left. Neighbor Pilar insisted and organized the whole thing. We were kind of a party planning team, so it was bittersweet.

My DC bestie, Sus helped too. She made Facebook cookies with custom status updates just for us.

AND, knowing my love for sushi.... a giant "sushi cake." It was all sweet and even the little sushi rolls were coconut rice, papaya, and mango. Delicious (as always).

Ugh, I'm going to miss that girl.... and her delicious treats BUT I have lost five pounds since we left.... ; )

The spread.... many dishes from PITA HOUSE!

Molly walked up to each and every one of these men during the party saying, "Daddy?" and asking them to pick her up. Which they would. It was only upon getting higher than the blue shirt (like to their face), did she realize the man was not, in fact, her daddy. Well, okay, one of them was.

Something to keep the kids (and Neighbor Peter, age 60) busy...

James gave Mae an uncomfortably long goodbye kiss.

Neighbor Cheryl (troublemaker!) brought out the water balloons and water guns...

... which James (and Molly?) loved.

Hardest move to date.

Molly 17 months

Cute, isn't she? Well, get in line little boys because Molly already has a suitor! James' little school friend, Matty has an older (!) brother named Jimmy (age 5) and he is IN LOVE with Molly.

I thought it was cute when he told her he liked her shoes, sweet when he fed her dinner, but this (THIS!) left me speechless (and you know that doesn't happen very often).

He made this for her at school. It is "a Stegosaurus, a Pterodactyle, and two volcanoes." For Molly. He asked his mom to put it in an envelope that says "To Molly, Love, Jimmy."

He's FIVE.

We're IN TROUBLE.

Welcome Home!

Brian's been going on one-week trips about once a month for the last two years, but somehow, eight days in Korea seemed much longer (see previous post). He's home and all is well now..... because..... he brought presents!!!!

How cute is the mini flight suit? It even has exact replica patches of the ones that Brian wears on his every day.

Molly totally rocked the Korean pajamas (?) ....

and look, LOOK!, at my new Coach bag!

All of a sudden, I am looking forward to Brian going on another trip to Korea....

N.O.T.

Thanks, Babe!