Bouncy Birthday!

Not ours--KC and Lissa's friend turned 3 today and they were invited to her party.  This was a BIG deal.  It was their first invite to a birthday party that was for someone we are not related to. (I realize that this is in part due to the size of our family!)  They have been anticipating this for weeks.  Friday we bought their gifts, which were chosen very thoughfully for such young kiddos.  Saturday to kill some time when the weather was a bit dicey, we made our own wrapping paper and the birthday cards.

This afternoon after church we went to the party. KC was excited in part because it was at the gym where Lissa takes gymnastics.  He has been very curious about what goes on there.  Lissa was glad to be back at the gym as there has been a 3 week hiatus in the classes and she really really misses it. 

It was so cute to see Lissa show KC the ropes.  Where to go, how to stretch, what each piece of equipment was for.  It was her moment to shine, when we were in the gym.  She is so utterly in her element there. KC tried some pieces but is not fearless by nature.  Eventually he retired to the bounce house where he could bounce in a feeling of contained safety.  Meanwhile Lissa was very into practicing sticking her landings from the high bar of the unevens.    There was about an hour to play in the gym and then we went up to the room where the actual party would be.  We had cake and ice cream and watched the presents get opened. 

Here it was KC's moment to shine.  He sat right beside the birthday girl, passing her the gifts.  There were a LOT of them! But he was so genuine in his enjoyment watching her open them all.  Other kids drifted in and out, watching when their gift was opened but wandering off to the food, or play area when it was done.  It was a long afternoon (Ooma felt a little crazed for the first hour keeping track of 2 kids in a gymnastics environment!) but it was great.