The best part was I got a new Toothless

The business of birthdays is complicated when kids are little. The pre- preschool years are challenging since "friends" is a pretty loose term. So we parents tend to go a little overboard and invite all of our favorite people and all their kids.

This year, our birthday blowouts for Noah are three strong: a party this weekend with David's family, my best pals and kids galore; his real third birthday on Wednesday with just boring old mom and dad and some presents; and another birthday party next weekend with my family (who couldn't come this weekend).

Yesterday, we took birthday No. 1 to Riverside Park in Mount Vernon. Not only do we love that park, but they have a sizable shelter house which we can reserve for free, that sits in rather close proximity to numerous playgrounds for kids of all ages. Thank goodness for shade—it was 90 degrees yesterday!

We had a seriously happy kid. He was bouncing off the walls with the thought of so many kids coming to share in his big day!

Aunt Scharlotta & Uncle Carl hung out with Grandma Frazier and kept cool in the shade.

Beck, Cassie, Em & Kaiya looking lovely as always!

The Mantovanis always make our occasions happier. Clay, Kristen (and baby No. 2 on board) and William.

A "How to Train Your Dragon" cake! And look at that Toothless (the black dragon)—that was Noah's highlight of the day!

This Buzz Lightyear bike and helmet was pretty cool too.

Owl girls! L–R: Helene, me, Beck, Em, Kristen, Will, Lizz, Craig, Olivia, Noah, Kaiya, Cass, Violet, Drew, Laney (missing Hannah, Charlie & Austin).

Kristen and moi, a self-portrait shot we actually both liked.


Hey Will, what's happening? Will brought me a little Mom's Day ditty—delicious chocolates! I broke into a German truffle last night and give it a full Rachael Ray YUM-O!

Look at these buddies—Ian, Emma, Mady & Mason.

This is Mckinley, Mason & Mady's little sister born just a few weeks ago.


Craig (center) needed a bit of attention that big sister Laney and big brother Drew were happy to provide.

At the end of the party, Noah was so darn hot he just crawled in the cooler (at Clay's or David's suggestion, I believe). And then he stayed there for the next 30 minutes, happy as a clam on ice. Will didn't see what all the fuss was about. :)

Today we're waiting for the rain to clear so we can break out all the new water guns, water slides, bubble blowers and whatnot and play, play, play!