Anders' 5th Birthday

Anders is the kid that gets what he wants.  With his combination of confidence, persistance, and charm he can walk into a neighborhood store and score free candy just by asking "Is that free?" Aside from a few episodes of misfortune, Anders goes about his life expecting, and getting the very best.  So of course the weather was perfect on a late January day, when we celebrated his fifth birthday along with our dear friends and family. He requested a penguin themed party and donned a mini tuxedo for the occasion.

This year being my "Year of No", I ordered food and delegated like a boss. There was no piñata because, darn, the city prohibits them in rental spaces.  All that penguin craftiness?  It wasn't me.

The party was held at a San Francisco park with a great indoor space, outdoor patio, and enclosed playground. It was a nice coincidence that the recreation room was already decorated with a penguins and winter motif. The patio was fantastic for us parents-- we could catch up and have decent conversations while eyeballing the rambunctious crowd down below.

We felt blessed to have my entire immediate family with us, along with nearly all the friends we invited from near and far.  It's a hectic state of life we're all in, when we only get a chance to catch up at each others' kids' parties.

Our darling son, the athlete and frat boy of the family, was born just 4 months before we moved back to San Francisco from Arlington.  He was an accessory to my packing and unpacking efforts,  then he saw me transition back to full-time work.  I don't feel guilty, but his boyhood is dramatically different than that of his older brothers, spending more time at preschool and being doted on by his grandmothers and uncle than me. It's no surprise that he navigates his own path with ease, bolstered by the love of those who surround him.