Birthday #6

After Thanksgiving, much of this past weekend was dedicated to birthday party preparations. At the same time, Jack has been in the process of installing our new kitchen island. Here, you can see past the party streamers to the island, which is veneered in mahogany.

A birthday party calls for...cupcakes, of course. We're now using Cherrybrook Kitchen products (egg-free, soy-free, all-natural), and the results are delicious. These cupcakes are topped with chocolate covered sunflower seeds (Trader Joe's), which are mighty addictive.

Sunday morning, Binbin was like a broken record, or scratched CD, or misfiring MP3 (if there is such a thing). Every 2-5 minutes: When are people gonna' get here? Answer: They're coming at one o'clock. So, the morning was filled with busy-decorating-work like: how about if you spell out a Happy Birthday message to yourself with blocks?

The goodie bags were neatly arranged on the sideboard, and the previous night, Binbin insisted on sleeping under the dining room table in order to make sure they stayed in good order, which they did!

Caption for picture below: When are people gonna' get here?

We set up our party plan in the living room. Here is it:

In case the printing is too small, we began with 6, then it became 7 and finally 8 Labors (modeled after Hercules' labors, which provide one legend for the origin of the Olympic Games). The first labor is: text-twist.

Binbin here using his fingers to help figure out letter order.

Here, Emma, Anja, Zoe, and Chase on the sofa with their thinking caps on.

Cooper comes up with winning words: I, a, & yap.

I don't have photographic evidence of the 2nd labor (word bingo), which required some emergency help from Lorraine because sometime between a month ago when inspiration hit and Binbin's party, I seemed to have misplaced about a dozen bingo cards. Anyway, with assistance also from moms Melinda and Kristin, everyone got a bingo...and subsequently moved on to the 3rd labor: the egg balance relay. Here, Zoe passes to Cam, while the gang cheers wildly.

The 4th labor was an egg hunt, with clues for finding a map that would lead to the minotaur along with a puzzle providing a clue to the location of a sword for slaying the minotaur. Anja took her turn and smiles for the camera while others work on the puzzle.

With sword in hand, the 5th labor was to find the minotaur, which Jack brilliantly made of paper mache and expertly hitched up our giant maple tree. The 6th labor is, of course, to slay the minotaur. Amy steadies the beast. Emma gave it the coup de grace, spilling the minotaur's guts, or candies, as the lucky kiddies would have it.

Our fine Olympians, crowned in laurels and wearing medals designed by Sebastien Lee Xiabin Kline, bask in their triumph.

Happy Birthday was sung; cupcakes were consumed; presents were opened; and raucous partying was had by all.

To Binbin's friends, thank you all for some awesome fun presents and thank you for coming to celebrate!