Mario Party

We started a new tradition this year with the boys' birthdays.  Parties with their friends have become so chaotic, that when we add in family, we may as well be a three ring circus!  So, when Grant turned four, we held a small, calm family gathering close to his actual birthday, then celebrated in our usual over the top way with our friends a month later!  It worked really well, because the family gets to actually see and enjoy the birthday boy, rather than huddling in a protective group amidst twenty kids and going home to take a zoloft or ten.
So yesterday we celebrated Grayson's birthday with our family.  If you know my family at all, you know how my boys get fixated on things from time to time (and by "from time to time" I mean "ALL the time").  The new fixation is Super Mario Bros.  We play it on Wii; we play it on DSi; we pretend to be them and make up costumes using strange combos of clothing; we wear Mario pajamas every night.  So, naturally, we party Super Mario style! 

There are no Mario cake toppers to be had in our city, so we had to get creative for a simple Mario cake.  Grayson came up with a great design, and I made the cake according to his direction.  I think it turned out great!  (Sadly, Blogger is refusing to cooperate with this particular picture, so I'll just put the link  here.)

I suppose it's rude to name a favorite gift, so I won't name it, I'll just show you a picture instead!  Great plans are underway for the "friend party," including tiered cakes, twenty homemade hats, and fake mustaches...  Sounds like somebody better get busy!!