celebrating caleb, minion style

I'll tell you what -- making sure that a loved one has a nice birthday is an exhausting business. Exhausting, but totally worth it in the end. Caleb's birthday celebrations carried over into two days: the first, his actual birthday, was kept pretty low-key so we could reserve at least some extra fun for his party the next day.

We spent the morning out running a few errands (most of which were for Caleb -- a new birthday outfit and shin guards for the fall soccer season), and in the afternoon, at his request, we stopped at a playground in between a few more quick errands.

This park is called Leif Ericson Park and the playground equipment is designed to look like a Viking ship. So it was kind of interesting to note that we were the only people there with any obvious Scandinavian heritage (most of the other playground guests that day were Asian or Hispanic). But I guess that's Brooklyn for you. 

When Blake got home, we had a small family party. Caleb opened presents first, most of which incidentally turned out to follow a specific theme -- the I Spy Eagle Eye game, Spot It, and a boxed set of Where's Waldo books. This was followed by the ritual singing of the Happy Birthday song after which he blew out 4 candles on his bowl of ice cream (we were saving cake for the next day).

He also loved his gifts from his grandparents.

The next day five of his little friends (Anju, Blake, Jackson D., Jackson Q., and Luke) came over for a minion-themed birthday party.

Blake decorated the living room while I was away at a Relief Society activity (more on that in a later post). He did a great job!

As the guests arrived (or, I suppose I could say, as the "minions assembled"), we watched minion clips on YouTube. Their favorite was "Banana."

Our first game was Pin the Goggles on the Minion.

Then it was onto Don't Eat Pete, the Minion Edition (this particular game board created by Blake and I).

Followed by the opening of presents. I think his little friends were more excited than Caleb about the gifts, which is saying something.

Then it was time for cake. This entire party circled around the idea, introduced to me by my sister, to make minion cupcakes with toppers made of Twinkies. While letting the rest of the minion activities sort of fall into place, I gathered up all the supplies to make the cupcakes. I am no cake decorator, but I thought they turned out pretty cute. I also turned the cups into minions as well.

Minion cupcakes...

 ...and minion cups.

Everyone was pretty hyped up on party fun and sugar, so to calm things down while we waited for parents to pick up their children, we watched some of Despicable Me.

They were enthralled.

I put together goody bags for everyone to take home. They included a minion bouncy ball, some Smarties, a mini[on] bottle of bubbles, a party blower, and funky glasses meant to imitate the goggles the minions wear. Judging by how many pairs I saw at church today, I'd say those were a hit.

Minion goggles/nerd glasses.

Every time Caleb puts his on, he comes up to me and says, "Look, Mom, I a minion!"

The party of was all sorts of crazy fun, and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. Though, I must admit that I am relieved that birthday season at our house is over until the winter. We didn't try to "shrink the moon," but it kinda sorta feels like we did, and I am worn out!