Hurray for 5!

Jaya is officially 5 and we are all veterans of our first at-home birthday party. Preparations were not boding well. A dry-run of Pin the Tail on the Donkey led to wails of " I CAN"T SEE!", "I'm going to CRASH INTO SOMETHING!", "I won't GET THE PRIZE!", and lastly, "don't LAUGH AT ME MOMMY!!". Party game plans were modified to Pinata-bashing, arguably more likey to lead to losing an eye than Pin the Tail on the Donkey, but the promise of endless whacking followed by a shower of candy eclipsed all other worries (Jaya's, that is). Cupcake baking was halted when Jaya discovered vanilla and chocolate were planned, instead of chocolate and chocolate. Firm Mom, who would normally insist on using what we already have, caved into Mom Terrified of Party Cupcake Meltdown, and a late-night trip to the supermarket ensued. Invitation lists were pondered, (Danny, Caleb, JD? or Caleb, Charlie, JD?) and the last 8 dinosaur goodie bags at IParty snatched up.
But March 28th dawned blue-skied and 60, one of the handful of perfect spring days Nature throws our way March-May just to keep us all getting out of bed till June arrives. The boys played on the swingset, ran around with the soccer ball, hit the heck out of the pinata, ran inside, upstairs, downstairs, outside, and inside again, stuffed themselves with pizza, and ended the party with cupcakes in all their chocolatey glory ,sitting on the warm patio flagstones. Not a tear, not a fight, not a lost eye.
Of course, Jaya was up until 11 that night from sugar & exhaustion-induced nightmares, and it rained for the next 2 days, but I'll take it.