Lucky number 7

My girl had a birthday - her seventh one.

She 's quiet an active and competitive seven-year-old so she decided to go with a competition-themed birthday party. 

The stakes were high.

The donuts were too.

My girl won the donut challenge. Her strategy was to tug the donut off of the string so that it fell to the ground, then eat it from there. #dowhatittakes

My favorite of the challenges was the frozen T-shirt challenge - pictured below. The girls had to take a folded frozen T-shirt and get it onto their warm bodies as quickly as possible. 

It was cold hard work. 

But, yes, the forerunner - right there in the pink shirt - did take the medal on this one. 

But, hey, they're really all winners, right? 

Next was the messy but delicious and non-nutritious find-the-gummy-bears-with-your-mouth-through-the-whipped-cream challenge. 

I can't remember who won that one --- I think there was at least a 4-way tie.

And just in case you're feeling sorry for the poor sugar-deprived party goers, here is the grand finale -- the Candyland cake created by the birthday girl's sister and her best friend.

I know, it's pretty impressive! (and sugarfree! #liar)

Happy belated 7th birthday, littlest! I love you.

Welcome To The Club

Our younger siblings are finally taking the elevator to the fifth floor -- or whatever that saying is -- they are finally catching up with us.

And today? It's Kelly's turn.

And when a younger sibling turns 50 there's only one thing to do:

Cook bacon . . .

(I told you he looks good in a dress!)

. . . and put out a spread . . .

. . . and wrap some presents . . .

. . . and invite some butterflies over . . .

. . . oh and some friends, too.

We had a lovely time celebrating The Big Occasion . . .

. . . and Mumsie's Big Day is right on the heels of this one.

Family . . .

. . . Friends . . .

. . . and walking distance neighborfriends . . .

Mumsie busted a move out to The Field but we reined her in.

It was a gorgeous day . . .

 . . . the food was fabulous . . .

. . . if I do say so myself. And I do, I do.

Bubbly was flowing . . .

. . . and no Big Birthday is complete without a Fruit Tart.

Or a couple.

"No, thanks. I don't need help. I've got them all."

The Birthday Girl was pretty happy with the way the festivities played out . . .

. . . and we were happy to host such a Momentous Occasion.

What's a 50th Birthday without Fruit Tart or photo bombing?

Happy Birthday, Kelly!

Welcome To The Club.

relentlessly merving

I'm not going to stop until I finish with my stories, even though we're coming up on the one month anniversary of their occasion. 

To refresh your memory, first came Uncle Mervie's Big Time, which meandered into Chapter Two aka Bon-ay, where we left our tragic heroes in the open back of a pick up truck.

Oh, Milford

Aaaaan it turns out that the above was the one and only photo taken in fair town of Milford! Whoopsie. We had a really fun time, though. Mark picked us up from the train and we headed back to his great house for some snacks and bevs in his gorgeous back yard with our gorgeous MB, then we embarked on the pick up adventure down to the local beach for some fun in the sun before hitting a yum downtown stop for some chow, and then we had to race to the train for a pizza date with mom and Ann in Soutport.

Southport is the lovely epitome of Connecticut. On Sunday morning I took a walk (all the other days I preferred to just sit) down to the water to stretch my legs. It's so pretty down there!

I was glad to stretch my legs a bit that morning, and warm up my gut stretching stamina in preparation for the night's epic feast

We managed to stay hydrated and ward off scurvy

I love making lebanese food, especially at mom's house with it's treasure trove of well used recipes

And the always entertaining family photos from the 70s

We had but ONE participant in this year's cannonball contest, which is really unforgiveable. At least At least I managed to capture a great action shot to showcase my boy's mad skillz

I love night swimming. I mean, I love watching other people swim at night.

We turned in fairly early that night, and in the morning I was treated to the satisfying sight of my children on adjoining air mattresses with my mom in the background on the patio with her coffee and papes.

That day was Ann's birthday, which we celebrated with lunch at the club

paying homage to Jane's record

lovely luncheon

And then, they came...

they saw...

they conquered...

this one has epic zoom and crop potential

birthday girl!

Our final stop in Connecticut was to the one, the only

Stew Leondard's

Ah, the singing beverage cartons. Of course. 

Make a wish*, dollies.

*I wish I had a soup dumpling

To be continued, one more time....