Boys' Birthday Party

As I mentioned in Zachary's birthday post we decided to have one party for the two of them this year.  We had a combo dinosaur/Elmo party and it was a blast.  We love showing off our fun little boys and they were so excited for their party.  Well, let me rephrase that...Zachary fully understood the party was approaching and was very wound up and Eli fed off of Zachary's excitement.

Of course by the age of five, Zachary's a pro at unwrapping gifts.  Eli's still learning but luckily Zachary is there to help "teach" him.  Zachary went first with some help from a cousin and a couple friends.  Eli strolled around the room seeking the attentions of various family and friends and would occasionally swipe one of Zachary's newly opened items to check out for himself.  When his turn came to open he helped for a little while, but then decided one of his new books was more interesting and he curled up on the couch with said book as Zachary & I finished the task at hand.  I think he may be more into it by Christmas, but we'll see!

It's said that a picture is worth a thousand words, so enjoy!

Each year we get the boys birthday t-shirts with a picture depicting the theme of their party, their name and age. 

It was hard to get this busy boy to hold still for a picture when he got his shirt.  This was the least blurry photo I had!

Stegosaurus cake made by Mamaw Linda.  We didn't want Zachary to be upset if anything was forgotten so I had given her a few pictures from some of his dino books so she could get all his important details.  Zachary was happy so we think she did a great job!

Eli's Elmo cake.  Another great creation by Mamaw Linda.

Zachary was VERY happy with his cake!

Eli loved his cake but he couldn't figure out why we kept trying to take his picture with it.

Alyssa's here, the party can start!!!!  Eli is infatuated with his baby cousin.  He was getting very upset while she was in her carrier because he wanted her out.

Great friends!  Zachary with Jillian and Joseph Hostetler.  I can't believe the three of them held still & smiled for this picture!  Jillian and Zachary are exactly two months apart and Joseph is a year younger.  Things get crazy when these kids get together!!!

Our attempt at a family picture.  Three out of four looking at the camera & smiling is pretty good with all the commotion going on around us.  If you look over Zachary's shoulder you can see the Elmo balloon photo-bombed our family photo!

Let the gift opening begin!  Zachary's helpers were friends Jillian and Joseph and second cousin Griffen.

The first gift Eli "borrowed" from his brother.  This boy loves cars and tractors.

Daddy gave Zachary some autographed items he's acquired.  This is a baseball and batting gloves signed by Danny Dorn, former Louisville Bats player currently with the Toledo Mudhens.

Our boys love balloons so we purchased a helium tank and filled the room with balloon bouquets.  One bunch slipped off its weight and was caught.  To keep it from getting into the ceiling fan Aunt Cara tied it into Aunt Kendra's ponytail.  It was really cute and Eli was fascinated by it.  If you've seen in other photos we got them each a large balloon too.  Of course they stayed with the theme and were a large dinosaur and Elmo.  They're each about 3 feet tall and will probably float in our living room until Christmas.  The boys were really happy with this surprise.

One of Zachary's favorite gifts was from Aunt Judy.  She gave each of the boys a Dream Lites Pillow Pet.  Both were puppies.  After the major parts of the party were over and we were all just visiting, he kept turning off the lights (without warning) so he could see the stars projecting onto the ceiling.  Just before falling asleep with it on the couch he named his puppy Glow.  It's so sweet to see my tough little boy whose main interest is something so mature be so enamored with a child's toy.  I love that he can still let himself be a little kid!

He loved his dinosaur umbrella.

Looking at signed photographs from Colts defensive tackle Ricardo Mathews.  Bryan had sent him the pictures and a letter asking him to autograph them.  Bryan told him the pictures were going to be for Zachary and bragged on how great a big brother he is to Eli throughout all of Eli's issues.  Mr. Mathews autographed all four photos and sent a pair of game used autographed gloves (that's what Z is looking at in this picture).  The gloves are HUGE!  My hands aren't little and they were really big on me.  He also sent a handwritten letter thanking us for being fans, saying he'd keep us in his prayers, and included some bible verses.  GO COLTS!!!  Even if you're not a Colts fan, please cheer for #91 Ricardo Mathews just for being a nice guy!

Eli LOVED the gloves and wore them for a long time. 

Another autographed item:  A signed shoe from Ryan LaMarre, a center fielder with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.  The Wahoos are the double A team of the Reds organization and Zachary loves saying "Wahoos!"  In this photo I was showing Zachary the dirt and clay around the spikes.  He wrote "Happy Birthday Zachary" on the shoe above his signature.

Zachary checking out some signed baseball cards from Ryan LaMarre.

Eli's turn!  The first thing he opened was an autographed baseball from Aaron Brooks, a pitcher with the Kane County Cougars.  They're a minor league team of the Kansas City Royals organization.  Eli thought it was cool and promptly thew the ball to someone...he's got a good arm!

A new Sesame Street book!

Eli took a break from opening gifts.  I don't know what funny thing made me laugh, it's hard to tell with the group we had gathered in our house!

Hot shot stole his brother's sippy cup.

By this time Zachary was helping open Eli's gifts and Eli was wrapped up in a new book.

This is what got Eli away from his new book....a musical card.  It plays the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme song. 

Time for C~A~K~E!  Zachary took a while to blow out his candles but he got the job done.  Eli didn't understand and didn't blow his out.  In the end Zachary blew out Eli's too.

Now that the candles are gone Eli gets the concept of blowing through his lips.

There was never any question regarding what to do with the cake on his plate!

This might be my favorite photo of the day.  Hours after the party was over, the new toys played with, and birthday shirts spot treated, they resorted to one of their favorite activities....Pots and Wooden Spoon Concert.  The music lasted almost an hour and they both played their hearts out.  

We need to use this time as a thank you to some people.  Thanks to Mamaw Linda for the wonderful cakes.  Thanks to Mamaw Betty for bringing some food and the tedious task of cutting veggies for our veggie tray.  Thanks to Kendra for being our gift secretary and writing down what came from whom.  Another big thanks to Kendra for bringing the large dinosaur and Elmo balloons from Evansville in her small Sunfire.  I wish we'd gotten a picture of her with those two huge balloons in her little car!  Thanks to Andrea Hostetler for being our photographer while Bryan videoed and I helped open gifts.  And a big thank you to everyone who came or sent any type of birthday wish to our boys.  Eli's birthday isn't until late October so we'll do a small gathering with supper & cake for him like we did for Zachary's actual day.

I loved their party this year and am almost looking forward to next year.  Almost ;)