Johannah's Birthday Party

Since Johannah always has a tricky time of scheduling a birthday party just weeks into the new school year, we tried something different this year. We threw her birthday party three weeks before her actual birthday, and seeing how easy it was, we might need to make this a tradition!

We asked David and Mel if we could use their pool. I know, I know, we are completely taking advantage of our friendship with them, but hey, what are friends for? :-) When they said "yes", we knew the Part-A was on!

First, all the kids met Johannah at Five Guys, her very favorite hamburger joint. When I say it's her favorite joint, you must know that Johannah's favorite food is a juicy hamburger. We frequently eat out, and there is never any question what Johannah will order, and if you ask her, she can tell you which restaurants have the best burgers (and which don't!) Five Guys tops her list, and thankfully, we have one in State College.

Mark, Glo and I were feeling rather left out as Johannah was sitting with and talking to all of her friends, so we decided to lighten things up a bit. Mark has a funny trick that he got from "The Lion King". In the movie, Rafiki, the monkey, blesses Baby Simba by wiping his thumb across his forehead. On a human, Mark licks his thumb and does the same to some poor, unsuspecting victim while saying "Simba". It's the funniest thing...as long as it's not happening to you! Just watch the video...

After seeing this, Johannah's friends told her that they know exactly where she gets all of the funny things she does. I guess it's in the water, or something :-)

Seeing as it was rather tricky for me to bake a cake for Mark's birthday party earlier in the week, and having heard rumors about a cupcake store just feet away from Five Guys, we headed to "Ndulge", a cupcake cafe afterwards. The store's motto is "Eat Well. Die Happy." Seriously, if anyone was to eat too many of those cupcakes, they would indeed die :-) The size of the cupcake must have been double or triple the size of a regular cupcake, every cake is filled with some creamy confection, and the frosting tastes homemade (probably just sugar and butter and sugar and some more butter). Every girl chose her flavor, and we packed them all away for later.

Off to the pool! Surprise, surprise, Mel and David had totally decorated their back yard with balloons, and tablecloths and flowers and plates and napkins, all for Johannah. Of course, we had told Mel that she didn't need to do anything, but being Mel, she had done it all. It was so beautiful (and being still rather emotional about things, I was rather emotional :-))

The girls had a great time, swimming in both the pool and hot tub. They ate all kinds of good food (including yellow watermelon that Mel had bought and that tastes like candy fruit), opened presents, and just hung out. I was so thankful that I could just sit back and let the party happen.

Here's Glo, eating yellow watermelon. Ummm, ummm, good!

A Cupcake Birthday Cake

On Facebook, Mark said about this photo, "My dad is actually reconsidering eating his cupcake and instead is thinking about eating ME!"

From my seat, I took several sequences of the kids jumping in the pool. You should have heard the crazy ideas. I think the following sequence was when they chose to do High School Musical poses :-)

Taking the hands-on-hips approach while Glo wonders how deep the water is...

Sara, quoting Shakespeare, while Mark looks on, impressed...

"We're all in this together", except ninja-Glo....

Mark, reaching the peak of awesomeness--

totally framed by women, showing off his massive guns...

Last (and only) man standing!

Of course, it wouldn't be a trip to David and Mel's pool without an attempt at getting on Laser Shark. This time, it was John's turn.

If you asked Johannah what she liked most, she would probably say all of it--I don't know how many times she has thanked me for all of the different aspects of the party. However, for me, it was really beautiful to see the nice girls that are Johannah's friends. It hasn't been easy for my kids to make friends since we moved here to Pennsylvania, but I think they are finally all settled in. Nice friends who say nice things and bring thoughtful gifts and just all-around get along. Sounds just like David and Mel too.


Happy Birthday, Hannie!