Magnus Turns 4

While we love throwing parties and seeing our friends, for Magnus' 4th birthday we really just wanted to relax and celebrate in a  low key way.  We were all recovering from several weeks of intense work, and needed to unplug more than anything.  So we planned a cabin weekend, inviting just one other family in addition to our immediate members.  Magnus requested a chipmunk party, in honor of his favorite stuffed animal, which couldn't be more perfect for a weekend in the forest.

Despite the Kings Fire, that burned just a few miles of the Karlsson cabin, we made the trip with the help of the first rain storms of the season.  While it made our preparations more complicated (try packing clothes and camping gear for warm and wet weather) we were just happy to be there.  Magnus' big gift from us was an excavator!

Even though we said we wouldn't go crazy with the party, it was hard to stop once mine and Kerstin's crafty-creative juices started flowing.  A simple apple spice cake turned into a tree stump covered in chipmunks and marzipan acorns.

My parents brought a fajita fiesta complete with margaritas.

Kerstin spent a lot of time on these chipmunk goodie bags, which Magnus insisted on having stripes and a tail on the back.

Since Magnus isn't in preschool or part of a fantastic playgroup (like we were in Arlington), he doesn't have a set group of friends that he sees very regularly.  Luckily he's good at fitting into a variety of social situations, and really feels like Linus' friends are his own.

Kerstin couldn't bare to let Magnus down, because he was certain he was getting a piñata.  I knew I wouldn't have the time or energy and was happy to pass the piñata torch to another brave soul.  I think the acorn piñata came out fantastic!

The rest of the time was spent putzing around, the way kids do when there's little supervision and lots of nature.

By evening it was raining steadily so we all squeezed into the cabin for a cozy pasta dinner.  The kids entertained themselves with crafts while the food cooked, and after dinner were treated to "Shrek" on a 10" TV.  

Magnus' real birthday was the following Wednesday, and we all took off work to celebrate.

It was an unusually windless morning so we had breakfast and gifts on the roof.  All of a sudden the neighborhood pigeons started to panic, and a beautiful raptor (identification, anyone?) swooped overhead several times.

We were pleasantly surprised that it was San Francisco resident Free Day at the SF Zoo.  My favorite part was the Africa exhibit, with a couple of baby giraffes.

I'm still amazed at how much joy and living this little rascal has packed into just 4 years.  We think Magnus is absolutely perfect: dirt, and wackiness and all.