Sunday, July 5, 2009

The Annual 4th of July Extravaganza


Our godson, Aidan, was blessed to be born on the 4th of July, which I have come to understand is the best day of the 365 to be born: everybody's off from work, it's the promising start of a long, leisurely summer, and for goodness knows how many years, you think that the fireworks are for YOUR BIRTHDAY. It just doesn't get any better than that.

The Birthday Boy Aidan

So every year we have gone the Altogether Fabulous Aidan's Birthday Blowout and it is just about my favorite party of the year. The kids are thrilled, all coordinating in their red, white and blue outfits, and not only is the food always wonderful, hostess with the most-est Judy always has fun things planned for the kids to do: games, treats, pinatas, and this year, decorate your own flag-themed t-shirts. It was awesome.



For some reason, the pictures from this party turn out the best, and you can immediately see the rose-tinge of glowing nostalgia around them as soon as you get home and look at them. We had a huge triumph this year of collecting all of the children, ranging in age from 7 months to 7 years, and it actually turned out decent... for years we have attempted this with really not much success. You can tell the kids are getting older. And better trained to pose for pictures.


We had a blast this year roasting marshmallows around a fire pit and making s'mores. Well, actually, the kids just enjoyed waving moderately-dangerous sticks around and thrusting the marshmallow directly into the flame of the fire and proclaiming: "I ACCIDENTALLY lit my marshmallow on fire!!!" I'm not sure how many of them even really ate the marshmallows, or s'mores, but they all had a wonderful time. Aidan ingeniously solved the "ol' smoke in the eyes" problem by wearing this while roasting his marshmallows:
Clone Trooper Aidan, Marshmallow Roaster Supreme

Here are some of my favorite shots from yesterday. Hope you had a wonderful Fourth!!!

Judy tries out the spray paint, with the help of a Mike's Hard Pomegranate Lemonade

Michaela and Michael, looking very grown up

Another fun group shot on the deck

Jenna works on her t-shirt

2 comments:

Winterhoff Family said...

Per request on 7/6/09, I want to comment on how "pretty" both of the girls look in their red, white, and blue! What a great celebration for the 4th!

Anonymous said...

What a fun party of dear people! Pays to pick your friends carefully so your kids will have precious friends! Michael and Michaela look like teenagers! Love, LW