Happy Birthday, Teenager!

Juniper is officially a teen! 

 

She continues to love fruit and dairy, and requested lemon cheesecake and key lime pie as birthday desserts (one for her actual birthday, and the other for a small outdoor birthday party the following weekend).

She has also maintained her resemblance to a certain fantasy creature who perches on ledges and likes shiny objects.

Awesome Birthday Present

This was my birthday present from Juniper and Hazel!
(The original PowerPoint also had spectacular sparkle animation. Sadly, it was lost in converting to Google Sheets for online publishing.)

Hazel's 7th birthday

Our kids value tradition more than novelty when it comes to birthday parties. Hazel has decided that birthday party = Death Star cake.

A good light saber battle is also part of the birthday tradition.

Star Wars all around! Easy to shop for someone who is so unwavering in her fandom.

Hazel has been 6 for a while

 Some things have not changed since her birthday. She still loves her "wolfie."

But I have no idea what happened to the accompanying National Geographic wolf book.

Nobody Loves a Goblin is still popular, but these days Hazel doesn't need Juniper to read it to her.

Hazel is 6!

Hazel and her friend Josie are 1 day apart in age -- perfect for a joint birthday party!

We were lucky to have beautiful fall weather and a terrific setting, plus just about everything you could want for a kids' party:

Swings...

Monkey bars...

A bounce house...

Noise makers...

Chocolate frosting...

Even a pinata, thanks to our crafty friend Gabriela who made this star in honor of Hazel's love of Star Wars.

Perhaps we could have used a few more big kids to whack open the pinata, although no one complained when Josie's dad burst it open and dumped out the candy.

Hazel and Josie are old enough that they no longer get to be the cutest kids at their own party. Fern was the unrivaled queen of cute, especially as she proudly told everyone at the party about how she peed on the potty.

Happy Birthday, six year olds!

Hazel said that to have an even better party next year, we should do everything exactly the same but have more balloons, more juice, plant some flowers, and open the "mud kitchen." (Her name for the cob house that's currently being built in Josie's neighborhood.)

Happy Birthday, Ellen and Rosi

 A big family dinner to celebrate...

...and two tired girls on the ride home.

Our birthday present to Mom was a trip to The Mystery Room. In our allotted 45 minutes, we successfully solved all the puzzles in the Black Ops room, rescued the scientist captured by terrorists, diffused the bomb, and generally saved the day. Go Team Awesome!

Happy Birthday, Juniper!

Juniper is 8!

My mother showed up to Juniper's first birthday with this 8 candle (don't ask). We stuck the candle in our kitchen drawer, moved it from one house to another, and were delighted to finally use it. (The photo above was from breakfast, not her birthday party with the cake and special candle. Apparently, after holding on to it for 7 years, we failed to record photographic evidence of its use. Typical.)

It is a good thing to have a sister who knows how much you will love a plastic pegasus with purple sparkle wings.

Notice Tiglenda the tiger also enjoying the festivities.

Apparently 8 is not quite big enough to pick up your older cousin, but it's still fun to try.

Happy birthday, Junebug!

Lord Vader turns 5

This year we celebrated Hazel's birthday party on Halloween.


Darth Vader was a popular costume.

Hazel Vader stands triumphant while Henry Vader has momentary technical difficulties with his light saber.

Fern was super cute and brought back memories of when Violet and Juniper were small.

She and Ona had a nature girl thing going on while the Vaders dueled.

Lunch (Hazel's choice) was hot dogs and lasagna...

...with a Death Star birthday cake for dessert.

Happy 5th birthday to the sweetest Sith Lord in all the galaxies.

Happy birthday!

Only 7 months late on posting photos from Juniper's birthday. Wonder when we'll share photos from Hazel's birthday party (last weekend) or actual birthday (this Friday)?

 For the second year in a row, she wanted a PJ birthday breakfast party with chocolate chip pancakes.

Happy crowd in a full house, with nose picking!

Some people might not realize what an awesome gift a chameleon tape dispenser is, but Juniper has a particular fondness for tape.

 Happy snuggles!

Juniper's friends and family know her well. She was delighted to receive a big pile of books.

Bowling Birthday Party

This is how you want a kid to feel at her 4th birthday party!

After the bowling alley, we came back to the house a dinner of Hazel's choosing: hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, and chocolate cupcakes.

Hazel's 4th Birthday

Hazel began the day with a present from Juniper.

 Henry skipped preschool and spent the morning at Leapin' Lizards with Hazel.

Chocolate ice cream sundaes--Hazel's requested birthday dessert.

Opening presents...

...a light-up morning star!

Hazel loves weapons. I'm so glad it is our second child who has an interest in weapons, warriors, and warfare. If it had been Juniper, I think I would have fretted about What It Means and worried that her interest may suggest some dark tendency toward violence or aggression. Instead, I've been able to watch other parents deal with those worries and realize what it means is that kids like powerful stuff.

Happy birthday, little warrior.


[At the risk of being overly pedantic, I was checking to see whether it's morning star or morningstar, and I learned that this particular weapon is actually a one-handed flail. The morning star is a club-like weapon with no chain.]