PARTY TIME 

A few funny photos to share from the weekend.

It was the party of a lifetime, in my kids’ eyes.

An hour to run wild with a dozen other little kids in a huge room filled with bouncy houses, impossibly high slides, and inflated obstacle courses - topped off with pizza, pop, cake, and a goody bag.

Todd’s little girl, Kennedy, turned 4 in grand style over the weekend, and the Shepherd kids were there to help celebrate. 

I‘ll let Todd explain why he was wearing the Hello Kitty party hat.  Real men can carry off pink just fine, don’t you think?

The evening was hilarious and exhausting - and most importantly, memorable for a smart and funny little girl, surrounded by friends.

GRANDPARENT GIFTS

      My in-laws from Georgia have just left after a 3-day visit spoiling our kids “within an inch of their life.”  And actually, they’re good at spoiling Ian and I too. (If you’re a regular blog-reader and confused - I have TWO sets of in-laws due to divorce and re-marriage  - my father-in-law and his wife in Ontario, my mother-in-law and her husband in Georgia. )

      We always appreciate their generous gifts and Paul’s amazing cooking when they visit. He and Ian like to become gourmet chefs for a couple of days, and it’s better than eating at a 5 star restaurant.

   Even more amazing though is their gift of time and patience with the kids.  Ian’s mom, Susan, spent hours and hours making play-doh pancakes with Clara,  bouncing a rubber ball back and forth with Calvin, and playing a game they invented called “hunting for bad guys.”  She and Paul created a play kitchen out of moving boxes that’s a feat of engineering - doors that actually open, shelves inside, and a double oven.

 They say they have this kind of patience because as retirees they finally have the time for the repetition kids crave.  While I get impatient after round 12, they’re good to go after round 112.

I really hope I have that stamina as a grandparent some day.

Have a good one -

Trisha