We’ve had a lot of requests for more pictures on our blog. Sorry we’ve been absent… life is busy with three little guys. I am making up for the lack of July posts with lots of pictures!!!
On Saturday we had Sammy’s birthday party. We decided to do a hedgehog theme this year. Unfortunately, it’s not a common children’s birthday party theme, so I had a hard time finding a lot of decorations and such. But it was still fun. I started by making a hedgehog cake:
![img_0933](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_0933-480x360.jpg?resize=480%2C360&ssl=1)
Which was complete, of course, with hedgehog hand puppet we found at Border’s one day. We also had a windup hedgie toy from Gymboree, but some little trouble maker had taken it off the table ;o)
And then we had the hedgehog outfits that we found at Gymboree:
![img_0940](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_0940-360x480.jpg?resize=360%2C480&ssl=1)
One for Sammy
![img_0941](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_0941-360x480.jpg?resize=360%2C480&ssl=1)
and one for Ethan
![img_0949](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_0949-360x480.jpg?resize=360%2C480&ssl=1)
Sorry, Patrick, they don’t make hedgie outfits in your size, though you do get a dart gun instead. I don’t think you really care anyways..
![img_0952](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_0952-360x480.jpg?resize=360%2C480&ssl=1)
At the party Kaiya got to try Zwieback toast for the first time. She loved it
![img_0955](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_0955-360x480.jpg?resize=360%2C480&ssl=1)
and Ethan liked his, too. It’s about the only solid food he really likes to eat!
(Amy, if you see this, I think he looks a little like Blake in this picture. What do you think?)
![img_0960](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_0960-360x480.jpg?resize=360%2C480&ssl=1)
Ethan also got to play with one of Sammy’s balloons. That is, until…
![img_0973](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_0973-360x480.jpg?resize=360%2C480&ssl=1)
Sammy decided it was time to let all the balloons go bye bye… doesn’t Patrick look devastated???
![img_0962](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_0962-360x480.jpg?resize=360%2C480&ssl=1)
Sammy was having so much fun, he couldn’t decide if he wanted to stay inside or out…
![img_0996](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_0996-360x480.jpg?resize=360%2C480&ssl=1)
That is, until it was time to open presents. The Whaley’s gave Sammy a special hedgie book… perfect for the occasion.
![img_1004](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_1004-360x480.jpg?resize=360%2C480&ssl=1)
Sammy was having a lot of fun opening his presents
![img_1021](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_1021-360x480.jpg?resize=360%2C480&ssl=1)
Mommy and Daddy got him a wooden stacking toy, which he really liked
![img_1024](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_1024-360x480.jpg?resize=360%2C480&ssl=1)
While Patrick and Sammy were enjoying the toys, Ethan was having a lot of fun being with Opa
![img_1027](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_1027-360x480.jpg?resize=360%2C480&ssl=1)
Oma and Opa got Sammy a soft Eric Carle block that makes noises… he and Patrick both got a kick out of it!
![img_1029](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_1029-360x480.jpg?resize=360%2C480&ssl=1)
This is how Uncle Jonny felt during the present opening. He was a little ticked that he didn’t get anything!
![img_1041](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_1041-480x360.jpg?resize=480%2C360&ssl=1)
Then it was time for Sammy to blow out the candles. He did it all by himself!
![img_1047](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_1047-480x360.jpg?resize=480%2C360&ssl=1)
Sammy loved the cake. Mommy was even nice enough to let him have seconds!
![img_1053](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_1053-360x480.jpg?resize=360%2C480&ssl=1)
After Sammy had made a total mess of his outfit, we let him strip down to his diaper- why not, he’s the birthday boy? Mommy made this one especially for him. It says “Warning: 2 Year Old”!!!!
![img_1057](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_1057-480x360.jpg?resize=480%2C360&ssl=1)
After Oma and Opa left, we all acted like civilized adults, and had a dart gun war. Even the Whaley’s joined in the fun!
![img_1077](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_1077-360x480.jpg?resize=360%2C480&ssl=1)
Sammy found himself a target yet again! He couldn’t quite figure out why his back felt funny 😛
![img_1069](https://i0.wp.com/www.flanaganclan.com/wp-content/images/2008/07/img_1069-360x480.jpg?resize=360%2C480&ssl=1)
Ethan just watched the dart war and smiled. He’s much too refined for such silliness.
Well, there were more pictures… lots, lots more. I took about 170 during the party. But I’ll leave you with those! Sammy’s real birthday is on Thursday, so we’ll probably let him at a cupcake or something. I did save one present for him to open on his real birthday. It always feels sad if your real b-day is ignored because you already had your party, or your party is to come later. So we’ll probably have more pictures with Sammy actually turns the big T-W-O!!!!