birthday wrap up

1.  Cake pops: super cute and fairly easy to make.  The jury is out on taste, however.  A cross between kinda gross and kinda can't stop eating them.

2.  Pin the eye on the alien.  Big hit.  The only 7 year old at the party cheated.  5 is probably the upper limit on this game.

3.  Pinata.  Perfectly un-sturdy.  Lasted long enough for each child to take two whacks.  

4. Decorate your own alien mask. Fun for the girly girls and boys alike.

5.  Don't underestimate the awesome-ness of a box cake mix.  Of course I'd like to be able to say I made my cakes from scratch. But I didn't. So there.

the face of five

handsome

silly

sweet

a whole lotta firsts

peas from the garden. enough for more than one person to eat this time!

first time shelling peas in my life. very fun and satisfying.  green thumbs afterwards....

Farmer Ben has been waiting patiently for his carrot seeds to produce for what seems like forever.  Finally, today we decided to check what was going on down under...
Alas, small and skinny carrots. but a very proud little man:

and last but not least, in less than the time it takes to watch an episode of the Wiggles, Ben mastered riding his big boy bike without training wheels!  It was a momentous occasion and we all took note of the date.. July 9, 2011.  It seems like one of those things you do in life that you're so proud about and you'll just remember it forever. Although I can't seem to remember learning to ride a bike myself.