Birthday Weekend

Oh, what a weekend!  I spent the week very busy trying to get homework and housework done so that the weekend could be a wild party.  And it was.  The kids decided to have one big party together for their birthdays, and the plan was that guests would arrive at 2 in the afternoon.  Emi couldn't sleep for a couple of nights (oh, anticipation) and Charlie cried when Aaron explained how the day would go.  The tears were because the party wouldn't start until early afternoon.  Charlie was expecting festivities to get under way immediately after breakfast.  Then he woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't fall back asleep.  I went in his room and lay down to help him relax, and he'd suddenly whisper, "Mom, after cake, we'll do presents."  His mind was racing right along.  His wonderful big sister made him happy:  she had bought two gifts for him, and she wrapped them up and gave them to him, so his day started out like he had been hoping.

The party itself was such a wild rumpus.  There were about twenty kids in all, and they self directed, creating these games and rules without any adult intervention.  It was fascinating to watch.  At one point the four oldest boys started a game of keep away, and it evolved into something that most closely resembled a rugby game, girls against boys, complete with tackles, passing, strategy, and teamwork.  The funny thing was, all of the kids were under control even as they played so intensely.  It was amazing to see them create a game and then self-regulate even in the midst of the wild fun of it all.  I will put some pictures up when I get them from my Dad, the designated photo journalist for the afternoon. 

Sunday was a day of recovery for the kids and I.  We stayed at home and loafed about, while Aaron went and played a soccer game.  He got a good kick in the ribs, a danger of playing goalie, apparently.  He just got over a bruised rib on the other side, so now he's sore again, but still going to practice tonight.  Plus, the Trail Blazers are going to be playing, and Aaron can stop by the sports bar on his way home and have his night out.  He gets his night out, usually soccer or cards, and I get my day surfing.  It's a good balance, since I really have a hard time caring about a play-off game, and Aaron isn't interested in surfing. 

The Endless Easter

Happy Easter, everyone!  For us, it started with the Easter Egg Scramble on Friday, continued Saturday with an event in Pahoa, and culminated in two Easter egg hunts today:  one here (with way, way too much candy....seems I would buy a bag each time I went grocery shopping the past month and didn't keep an inventory) with the neighbor boys and Frances, and then one next door at the boys' house.  Ah, the excitement, the sugar, the fun!  Charlie ate too much candy- he doesn't get many chances to over-indulge and he really seized on this one.  Emi was much more deliberate, savoring that favorite chocolate and anticipating the days to come.  This candy will probably last until Halloween. 

 The jump rope in the Easter basket was a good thing- it's kept her busy and bouncing most of the morning.  It's better than fighting with her brother!  That happens sometimes, especially with the overdose of excitement.

Tomorrow is Emi's birthday, so I look forward to baking a couple dozen cupcakes for her to take to class (will anyone seriously feel like eating a cupcake?) and then planning a special little dinner.  We're planning a birthday bash for her and Charlie the weekend after next.  As for the rest of the family:  Aaron's on a run with Sparky.  That little dog is good for at least five miles a day, and he doesn't mind doubling up on his run.  Five in the morning and he's good for another few in the afternoon, maybe some sprinting around the yard chasing a ball.  On the other hand, the old dog Lenny is good for about half a mile.  A mile is stretching it, and when I tried to take him on a longer walk he kept wanting to lay down in the grass and he was worn out for a few days.  Poor guy.  He loves to take his walk, but it's short and involves a lot of sniffing.

I'm finishing up the last few weeks of the term, so I've been busy with that, plus getting Charlie's kindergarten registration done, the doctor appointments lined up, not to mention the occasional colds and coughs that Emi brings home from school....family life is a busy life, even when it ISN'T a holiday or birthday month.  Though those sort of months seem infrequent.  I can't figure out how come the year has so many holidays and goes so fast.  As a kid I couldn't figure out why the holidays were so spread out.