The Party Part II: The Cupcake Edition

– Oh hi everyone. Is us celebrating our big day! 

– And it all going so well up until now too. Mommy think she put one over on us with 'dis cupcake nonsense.
– She not fool us though.
– No, we is not fooled. Although stick is nice touch.
– Stick is big improvement over last year. Is definitely best part of cupcake experience.

– Except, I wonder...

– You isn't really going to eat that, is you Seth?
– I is thinking about it. Blue icing been my downfall before, but 'dis blue icing all swirly. Maybe swirly blue icing be different. 

– Here I goes, everyone! One, two, three... 

– *chomp*

– So... how was it?
– *Mmmrph*

– I not quite catch 'dat, Seth.
– Er... I mean is delicious. You should put stick down and try some. You not be sorry.

– ... *gag* *choke* *sputter*
– Sorry bro' – there no way I going to suffer horrible birthday burden alone 'dis time. Misery love company and all that.

– Oh, dat really stinkeroo of you, Seth – even tho' I has no one to blame but self for falling for it I suppose.
– Look on your face *almost* make up for own miserable cupcake experience so now I smiles a little.

– Still... you do realize I will get you for 'dis. You not know when, you not know how, but is coming.
– It still worth it, but I think now is time to make exit, everyone. If you has advices on sleeping with one eye open tho', feel free to leave comment.

- L.

The Party Part I: The Nutshell Version

The birthday banner was up:

The cupcake toppers were ready to go:

And the special guests had arrived without much time to spare:

All we needed were a couple of birthday boys. Luckily, I happened to have some handy:

Don't worry. I didn't try to make them eat cake again this year.

I stayed up late making those cupcake toppers for a reason after all. Cupcakes do not = cake by the way and in case my logics here aren't making sense it's a well known fact (and if it's not it should be) that cupcakes have a completely different cake to icing ratio. Sometimes it's all the details. Suffice it to say I was optimistic.

Nate and Seth opened their presents after their big cupcake experience was over and I'm pleased to say there was plenty of wild abandon. Unfortunately it was so wild that most of the photos are a complete blur of activity – but on the plus side, they have definitely cottoned onto the idea of opening presents.

A couple of shots from quieter moments:

The sock monkey jack-in-the-box has been a big hit, but the sock monkey hats have turned out to be an even bigger hit. My boys have always had a fondness for hats after all.

They also scored some new books which have joined their recent collection of completely out-of-reach books since book-tearing is still a hot commodity around here. Despite their reckless behavior with said books, there is little my guys prize above a good read. Nate could not be any more zeroed in here without actually boring a hole through the book (which would involve an entirely new level of destruction I'd prefer not to think about).

And despite all the birthday excitement, naptime at 2 went off without a hitch. They actually slept exceptionally well that day – including overnight – which was a good thing since planning even a small and simple party nearly wore me out.

In case it sounds like I'm wrapping things up, I am – but only for now.

I know you've been sitting on tenterhooks the whole time wondering how my sweet boys enjoyed their cake this year and now you're going to be wondering if my cupcake strategy paid off in the form of finally having a picture of icing-faced little ones to show you.

That, however, is a tale for another day.

- L.