Birthday number FIVE.

I must begin, of course, by remembering Turner's other birthdays first. His first birthday was at our place on Coriander Lane in Lexington. Nearly everyone from our families were there, friends too, as Turner dug through chocolate cake. He got a riding toy that year and took the drive way. He wasn't walking yet, but he could ride with force. His second birthday was much like the first. Folks at our house in Lexington celebrating anniversary 2. Turner had more of his friends at this party, and he got a soccer goal from Ashley that was a huge hit with the cousins. Birthday number 3 was our first birthday in Tucson. It was a great party at a nearby park with many of his Catalina friends and my friends from school with their children. I made six different kinds of sandwiches, cupcakes and a regular cake. Birthday number 4 was at Ft. Lowell park again. I made cupcakes again this year (from cake mix) and saved the good cake for home. It is too much work to make Cheryl's fudge layer cake just to pass it out to children who couldn't care less how homemade or store bought it is.

Turner's number five birthday celebration began last Saturday (nearly a week early) when we started piece by piece making shopping trips to secure supplies for his party.
He made special cards for all of his guests, to thank them for coming and to put with their party bags (we ended up with about twenty extra of these).

Tuesday (I think) I wrapped all his presents. They've stared at him the rest of the week, piquing his excitement. We baked for two days--a bunny cake, 24 cupcakes, and 1 fudge-y cake (a Cheryl original).


Good Friday arrived. Andy and I tried to be strategic about Turner's party this year, planning the time and location to encourage more of Turner's friends to come. (Last year we didn't have the best turn out). Good Friday arrived and the school closed at noon. Andy and I distributed bunny cake widely to the kids and staff who are left at the school. And we tried to remind as many parents as we could that Turner's birthday party was later in the afternoon. Most of them were taking their kids to an alternative childcare arrangement for the afternoon. Others were going out of town for Easter weekend. It is times like these that we MOST miss our family. They would show up and help make it a party if only they were near.

The party is at 4 at the park across the street from the school. We get there at 3:15. Annie arrives first, about 4:15. Denise--a friend from the program--arrives with her two boys (Noah, who is Turner's age, came up to him and wished him a happy birthday. This was the first time he or I had ever heard Noah speak. I cried. He is autistic and the ability to speak is huge given where he falls in the spectrum). Ginger gets there around 5. Thorsten and his brother arrive at 5:30 or so, and Erica and I proceed through the dissertation melodrama ritual. We have cupcakes in shifts. Cheese sticks. Capri Sun. Lots of bubbles. We decorate Easter eggs and hand balloons out to many of the kids at the park. It was a fun-filled party with a small guest list. I don't think Turner found the party to be anything other than HIS day to be the center of attention and to have FUN, which he got plenty of.

Running with Noah playing Bionicle.

At home, we have a big dinner and fudge-y cake. Open some more presents.

Turner stuffed about half a piece in before he leaned back in his chair and burped some satisfaction. "My belly hurts." The mark of a great fifth birthday.