Alex's birthday celebrations had three parts this year! First of all, he really-really wanted to go to Five Guys for dinner for his birthday. One of their new locations includes a place in Cambridge, so we headed there on Friday before his birthday only to be stuck in traffic for over an hour and having a tough time finding a spot to park. BUT it was all worth it at the end. The kids were happy (except Mark who thought he was getting his own big drink but didn't).
We played UNO and chatted getting warm from the heavy rain outside, waiting out the bad traffic home. Mika couldn't believe that Five Guys offers free peanuts to its customers, however much you want. He said it would be so awesome to live in Cambridge as you could stop by this place and get some peanuts any time you want. That's an interesting thought;)
Alex's actual birthday this year fell on Monday. Because we wanted everyone to be there for opening presents (including Robert who had to go to work early in the morning), we let him open a couple of presents at 7:30 am without some kids who were sleeping, and then the rest later in the day.
New thing this year--Top Trumps. This is such a popular series of games with kids and adults alike. And there are so many subjects! Here is an example:
It's like War, but the person whose turn it is to "call" the card names the category that he or she thinks will be higher than the opponent's. So if I had Kate Middleton, I'd say "Style Icon", and that would "trump" Prince William. So then I get that card as well. Anyway. It's easy and fun! So the kids now have a few subjects of Top Trumps like Harry Potter and Wonders of the World.
"I Survived" book series are great as well.
So is a purple lunch box with a Vikings logo. Is it a sign?;) Not sure. Alex just loves color purple and he was born in Minnesota, so I figured he deserved a Vikings lunch box.
In the afternoon, he opened the rest of the presents--more books, TWO DVD's ("Newsies" and "Big Hero 6"), an iPod inherited from Katya and cubic Rubik.
This year we didn't have an extravagant party. Alex just wanted to invite a couple of friends to go bowling and have some pizza. This was the day (again) when traffic in Huntingdon area around the base stood still because of the annual Secret Garden party in Abbots Ripton. We were late for everything...and so was our friend coming from Warboys. But that's all right. The boys still had a great time despite the rain ruining our plans to picnic outside.
Bowling on base.
And being silly. Mark is really into "photobombing" lately.
After bowling and standing in traffic for half an hour we finally arrived home. We had planned a street get together to celebrate Alex's birthday and hang out. Robert was in charge of making a cake that was supposed to look like a basketball....Yeah...a basketball:)))
It was late on Sunday night (after 11 pm) that he realized he didn't have the right kind of sugar for the frosting. He was planning to wake up super early and go to Tesco at 6 am to get the icing sugar so I could make it during the day. I came up with a better idea--I just went to Tesco at midnight since it opens at midnight on Monday mornings. It's an interesting schedule, actually. It states Tesco is open 24 hours EXCEPT it's closed on Sunday from 4 pm till 12 am.
Anyway, I made it home around 1 am, made the frosting in time for Robert to come home and decorate the cake during lunch. It was...interesting:)))
and Alex loved it!
This is Robert telling Alex, "Don't cough on the cake!":))
Hearing the whole street sing "Happy Birthday" must feel quite special:) Happy 10th birthday!!!
After that, kids played all evening till it was dark outside.
We had lots of food, scores and great hanging out conversation. We love our street.
Alex thought he had a great long birthday celebration:).
Lyana.
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