Monday, October 19, 2009

Birthday party


Well, we survived the 4th Birthday Party, in fact it went very well. There must have been over 20 children there, and no meltdowns!
This is David with his birthday cake, and Anthony's fire hose. He is putting out the candles. Anthony loves being a fireman - he kept coming up to David (and others) and saying "You're on fire! I have to put the fire out!" (with his hose).

David was very excited, and we agreed to open the presents at home after the party. David tried to negotiate a different result, but we held firm. Everyone was met at the gate, and asked about the present (he generally asked what it was) then he explained that "Mummy said" he had to wait until afterwards and open them at home.

Later, when Paul loaded all the presents into the car, David jumped right into his car seat to go with them. As Paul had to come back for a second load (including me), he then had to negotiate with David, who wanted to go into the house and open "all the presents" and then "just one, really quickly". David is a good negotiator - He suggests something , "How's that for an idea? It's a good idea!" (I think that he has probably got it from me.)

When the presents were opened, somehow all the cards got detatched from the respective present. I only know where a couple came from..... Boy, did he get some good stuff! Completely overwhelming in numbers and scope. Thank goodness we separated the party and presents from the actual birthday. It meant that he got a chance to appreciate his actual birthday and presents from family before the new wave.

We held the party at the local Community Centre hall. The hall has lovely polished boards, toilets, kitchen, quiet room, trestle tables, padded mats, sandpit, tiled & grassed outdoor area with climbing castle and slide and shady tree. And very importantly, LOTS of room to run.

Boy. oh boy, did they run! I put up three Spiderman banners and some streamers. We took a big bag of David's toys for the kids to play with, and some toys for the sand pit. Anthony's dad blew up balloons, but for some reason they were popping on the floor - bio-degradable, and not strong I suspect.

The party was in the afternoon from 2.00 to 4.00pm, and I got access to the hall at 1.30pm.

Thursday, October 01, 2009

David's music list

I added this photo because I like it, and because he won't be able to fit in the suitcase in a few months - he is getting bigger and taller all the time. The suitcase has been a cool thing to play in for a while. It can be a space ship, or a bed or a car, or anthing exciting really.

Well, we are having a fourth birthday party for David on 11 October. I have hired a hall with playground, as we don't have what you would call a backyard. Now I don't have to worry about the weather, space, or keeping the house clean (before or after). Hurray!!!

As a result, I have invited everyone David wanted to invite, and a few more. I think that we will have between 18-20 kids and associated baby siblings and parents etc. Hopefully a great idea but I will let everyone know after the event.

I have selected a playlist of music for David's party, and I thought that it might be interesting to record it for posterity. Here is the list:
Batman Theme (from the '60s TV series - with scary laughing in it that David loves)

Song 2 by Blur

All Star by Smash Mouth (from Shrek)

Mamma Mia by Abba (because they sing it at daycare)
Don't Call me Baby by Madison Avenue (because he likes it in the car)

Stayin' Alive remix by N'Trance (from Madagascar)

You got a friend in me the Robert Goulet / Wheezy version from Toy Story 2

Real Gone by Sheryl Crow (from Cars)

Spiderman Theme from 60s TV cartoon series

Wannabe by Spice Girls (from Small Soldiers)

Barbie Girl by Aqua (because he likes it in the car)

In the Flesh by Blondie (because I used to sing it to him when he was little - he calls it the Darlin' song)

Dr Who Theme from the TV series, because he likes Dr Who

Beyond the Sea by Robbie Williams from Finding Nemo

Le Festine by Camile from Ratatoille

Sh-Boom by the Chords (from Cars)

Route 66 by John Mayer (from Cars)

Batonga and Malaika by Angelelique Kidjo (from playing it in the car)

If I didn't have you (from Monsters Inc)

Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts (from Cars)
Take 5 by Dave Brubeck (because it is good)

22 Songs, 1.2 hours.
We should get through the playlist a couple of times.
This is a photo taken of us (including George) by David, when we were on holiday in Port Macquarie. Good, Huh? Now that he is getting to be a photographer, we may get some photos of Paul & I together occasionally.