It has been a long and rich tradition in our home that Caleb got a puppet show for his Birthday since his very first birthday…. until this year when he (to my dismay and relief) expressed his preference for a soccer party rather than another puppet show.  It’s hard to let go of traditions sometimes, but considering our hectic circumstances having just returned from China, spending a week at Lake Powell, switching jobs, moving to my mom’s home, preparing our home for renters – it was also an enormous relief.

So this year, we wrote a check to Arena Sports who did a fantastic job of entertaining a dozen 4-5 year olds, and making Caleb feel like a King for a day.  Hopefully, the outsourcing of parental duties is an exception and not a trend… but regardless, it worked out great for this year.

Coach Marty runs the kids. 

If there was any energy left, it must be completely burnt off running around the balloon toys.

Traditional party fare, complete with soccer cake.  I thought Caleb was going to burn his chin blowing out the candles.

Pull-string pinata – an interesting concept… It kinda eliminates the fun of beating something senseless… but I guess it also eliminates the injuries…

Klare shows off her loot.

Happy birthday boy and happy parents…

Mission accomplished

Caleb also proposed a “Science” party…  If you look at the Lake Powell pictures, there’s one where Caleb is reading an Encyclopedia of Science book while his other cousins are playing in the water…. He loves science, but hopefully it will be tempered with a love of other things as well – like sports, friends… girls….  and believe it or not, there are “scientists” that you can hire for birthdays…. If scientists are moonlighting at birthdays, the economy must be pretty rough…. Ended up that we couldn’t get the scientist because he was totally booked.  I proposed that I could get a lab coat and mix up some vinegar and baking soda, but that got a thumbs down….  I’m assuming the puppet show is off for next year, too…. so perhaps my best chance to get back into the act is to beef up my science acts… Anyone know where I can get some anti-matter?  fusion reactor?  String Theory for Dummies?