lucas' titanic birthday party:

Birthday parties are a big deal to Lucas.  When he was younger, we celebrated with just us and cake, except for the one year Grandma sent party supplies for him.  When he turned four, he asked where everyone was.  :(  Then he prayed that Grandma and Grandpa would come for his birthday.  Since then, they have made the trek every year.  Also two of our friends whom he's known since he was a toddler come every year.  This year was the first year he chose friends to invite to his party.  Almost everyone he wanted to come made it, except for one boy from his group speech therapy class.  One of his friends has autism, so his specialist came to observe him playing (and sometimes fighting) with Lucas.  

We got chicken (they gave us much more than we ordered, I think), brisket, and potato salad from Armadillo Willy's.  Lucas asked me to make my broccoli slaw for his party.  I also baked three Costco cheese pizzas for the non-BBQ eaters.  I think I should have planned to put out more sides or fruit, but I think I usually put all that effort into Naomi and Isaac's parties and either relax or get too busy before Lucas' parties.  I need to do a better job of asking for help.

Lucas usually gets lost in the shuffle.  He doesn't have a lot of friends like Naomi and is often overshadowed by his siblings.  He's written off because he's been awkward, shy, and has special needs.  But on this special day, we celebrate him, and he feels the love and has a lot of fun.  I am so thankful for that.  Happy birthday, Lucas!

Favor bags--marine animal squirt guns, slap hands, and Titanic gummies.

Isaac hanging out while waiting to get in the pool.

We usually provide a good amount of food.  Think some cornbread and watermelon would have been good, too.

Having a great time in the pool.

Poor F., he only had a tiny kickboard for a shield against four squirt guns.

Lucas loved having D. there.  D. is two years older and looks out for him at church.

Isaac with his proud grandparents.

We like having the same friends come each year as well.

Birthday boy with all the kids except Isaac.  It was hard enough getting all the kids in the photo; I didn't get a chance to turn the cake.

Amazing blanket made by Grandma.  Isaac already put an order in for his (a Captain America blanket).

I love all the details.  

Grandma got squirted, but still a great photo.

titanic cake and candy:

Lucas doesn't ask for much, except when it comes to his birthday cake.  He wanted a sinking Titanic cake (a little morbid--Naomi tried to talk him out of it).  So, I got this little foam board Titanic we had made during his unit study that I was just going to stick into the cake.  But he said that he really, really wanted it to be 100% edible.  So I tried to find instructions online, but there really wasn't anything.  Then I got so busy, I felt like I wouldn't have time.  Ultimately, thanks to watching cake competition shows, I realized that Rice Krispies treats would be an easier alternative.  The only problem was not knowing the amounts, so I made the treats and ran with it.  

The part of the cake that turned out best for me was making the ocean.  Most of it got covered up by the ship and iceberg, but I had fun with it.  The fondant part was gnarly.  I've only ever had to drape it on or make shapes, but getting it on and around the ship was tricky.  I ended up having to take apart each layer of krispies and covering it and reattaching it all together.  The smokestacks didn't go back on at the angle I had them, not that it mattered in the end.

By the time it came to put on the fondant and put the ship on the cake, I hit a time crunch.  The smokestack in the front kept falling.  It took me a long time to secure it (only to have it fall the next day and find out Lucas liked it that way, so it looked like the ship was breaking).  So no yellow lining and lights, and no time to make the all-important (to Lucas) anchor or the word Titanic.  I could have stayed up late and did it, but I needed rest and didn't feel like walking to the clubhouse late at night to store it in the fridge (no room in our fridge).  

I also made Titanic gummies a week ahead.  I'd originally wanted to give out Lifesaver gummies, but the Titanic gummies were more appealing to the kids, and Isaac was excited to help me make them.  Gummies are just jello with added gelatin.  I used a natural kosher gelatin and was going to use fruit juice, but for the sake of time, I just went back to using Jell-O.  This is the recipe I used as reference, but I tweaked it after a couple of batches for a better flavor.  Instead of packets of gelatin, I used a canister of gelatin and converted the measurements.  I used a turkey baster to put the mixture into the Titanic silicone ice molds.

Lucky guess:  I picked pans that I thought the treats would fit in and would be easy to shape--the two batches fit perfectly.

I unfortunately didn't really remember the size of the cake, so I hoped for the best.  Lucas wanted it to be big, though.  This is the "rough draft" all wrapped up for the freezer.

Piping gel and blue icing applied with a silicone brush.  I'd never done this before.

Choppy waters.

Final product.  It was a little too big!  But Lucas liked it this big.  I had to shrink down the iceberg to get it all to fit.

Making Titanic gummies.

Blue iceberg gummies.  Before Isaac came along, I never used blue food coloring.  Lucas cannot eat it and Naomi doesn't like it.

More party photos to come, but there's the cake with the broken smokestack.

cherry store and japanese gardens with the grandparents:

The grandparents came on Lucas' birthday.  It is a long, arduous drive, but they do it for Lucas.  He prays for them to come, and he looks forward to seeing them every birthday.  We went to The Habit for lunch, then made a stop at Michael's and the grocery store.  The kids had been asking Grandpa to make his yummy tacos for dinner.  I made a simple apple tart that morning, and the grandparents also had a cherry pie from a cherry store that Isaac's often asked to go to when we pass by on the way to piano.  Naomi gave Lucas a present in the morning.  She and I thought that he would like to do something on the actual day of his birthday, but he did not want us to sing to him or light candles or anything.  He just wanted to save it for the party on Saturday.  I went to pick up the cake and some ice cream from Costco and ran into one of Manny's coworkers.  Then after dinner (thank you, Grandpa!) the grandparents watched the kids while Manny and I went to an appointment with a therapist for one of the kids.  I might share more later, but don't want to disclose too much.

The next day, Manny was able to get a day off to join us.  I wanted to take the grandparents to some gardens, and I figured it might be nice to visit Hakone since I hadn't been there in over a decade and it was closer, so I'd still have time to work on the party.  During the last visit, my mom, Naomi, and I just did a short stroll around the pond and tea house.  I thought it would be as leisurely this time, but I did not account for three kids who love to explore, especially Isaac.  He ended up taking off way up into the higher parts of the grounds, so I was chasing him up many stairs.  Thankfully one vista point looked like a dead end, so he agreed to stop and turn around.  Lucas doesn't like to go out, but he really liked it when we were there.  He said it was so pretty and that he really like it there.  I ran into one of his PSP program directors at the gift shop as I was getting a partial refund (my in-laws look so young for their age, I forgot they qualified for the senior discount).  It was getting hot, and we were all hungry, so Manny took us to the Japanese buffet afterward.  Too bad the ice cream machine broke, because once Isaac was done, he kept going toward the exit.

Apple tart

Still not a meat eater

Famous cherry store

Lucas loves Grandpa (and his tacos)!

Lucas looking out at the koi.

The kids feeding the koi.

Also attempting to feed this poor turtle, which got knocked around by the koi.

Waterfall behind us, and Isaac throwing up signs.

A rare photo of all of us, thanks to a kind stranger.

Heading up the many steps.

Going back down (and then Isaac went back up another path)

I think this is the Moon View House?

Watching a little informational video.

Pretty parasol lights.

Beautiful view

Leaving through the gates.

just keep swimming:

While we were on trip, I did not bring Lucas' swim vest, which he hasn't wanted to wear lately.  I told Lucas to stay at the shallow end, but at some point he went toward the deep end.  Panicking a little, I swung my arms around and told him, "Swim!  Swim!"  It got a laugh from Manny and Naomi, who said I sounded like a Chinese mom.  I am a Chinese mom, but if you've been around a lot of Chinese moms, especially older ones, you can understand the accuracy of their statement.  I was thankful that the Monday after we got back from the trip, Lucas started his annual two weeks of swim lessons at a local outdoor swim club.  This is actually his third year in the beginning class.  He likes it that way, even though I really feel the urge to push him to make more progress.

The last day, which happened to be his birthday and the day his grandparents arrived, he said he really wasn't feeling well and couldn't go.  He never wants to miss a class, so I thought he was really sick.  Later he told me the truth was he didn't want to advance to the next class.  He'd observed Naomi's classes in the past, and they scared him.  I try to encourage him to keep swimming, or at least trying, and to listen better to the teachers, but ultimately he has to push himself.  At least floating came pretty easily to him this year, and his kicking and form have improved a lot.  But they were just starting freestyle the last day, and he didn't want to go.  I have found that my kids have a hard time with failure, and I have to take some of the blame for that for pushing them as hard as I did.  I've since learned my lesson, but I also tell them that failure is an indicator that they at least tried, and I'm proud if they just try their best, whatever the result.

Lucas' favorite game--Sharky, Sharky, what time is it?

class / pool party / anniversary celebration:

Last Saturday was a pretty full day for me with three events.  Manny held down the fort with the kids, although I did come home in between to potty train and change Isaac and make dinner.  He was okay with my going, but I know it's hard when we can't have time as a family because one of us has other things to do.  I thought he was going to take the kids somewhere, but he just stayed home, so I think the day felt long for everyone at home.

In the morning, I had a nutrition class for parents of picky eaters, which I was asked to do by both Isaac's pediatrician and dentist.  Some of it was a little anecdotal, but most of it was research and data driven, which I prefer.  The issue for me will be consistently following the recommendations.  They recommended we just keep putting the food in front of the child that they don't like, even if they play with it or reject it.  I find it hard to waste food, but I hope he'll come around in time.  Many of the things she said were exactly what I did--introduce meats and vegetables in baby food form once they can eat solids, keep introducing variety and nutritious foods, don't make a big deal of their pickiness, eat together as a family.  But Isaac is still super picky.  It was a two-hour class, so there was much more to it than that, but one tip I found might help is that they said to help Isaac with his aversion to the smell of meat, serve it in tiny pieces and cold.  It hasn't worked yet, but I'll keep trying.

After that, I had to run to the store to get two loaves of bread for a salad and dessert party at a friend's house.  I told her I had no time to make anything, so I was glad she gave me that option.  It was fun; I met or got to know a few new women.  However, I got talked into playing this challenging game, and I think that put an end to the deep and interesting conversations we were having.  Games are very fun and good for parties, especially where you all know each other, but if you play a game that requires concentration and strategy with people you just met, I think you can miss out a little on getting to know people.  But there will hopefully be more opportunities in the future.  I headed home early from the party, so I didn't swim, and Manny took a nap.  Then I got dressed for the party that evening.

We celebrated B & C's 40th wedding anniversary.  That's almost as long as our parents have been married.  It was nice to hear how much they still love each other and see all their wedding photos on the screen.  They served a nice buffet with some sort of mushroom chicken with gravy and sides.  I liked the people with whom I sat, so time flew by.  I hate to be that person who just eats and runs, but I had to get back to put the kids to bed and get rest since I was teaching the preschoolers the next day.  It would have been nice if Manny and I could go together, but just like the lady I sat with, our husbands aren't keen on large social gatherings, and we only ask a friend to babysit when we really, really need it (so almost never).

The ladies gathered at the pool on a hot day.

This game was called lanterns.  I was winning till the last turn, and then I lost.

Happy 40th anniversary!

Buffet dinner.

Live music.

last gym kids class:

Isaac has been asking to go to a class for a long time.  After being carted around (and missing naps) for three years for his siblings' commitments, he started getting an itch to get out of standby mode.  I was hesitant with our busy schedule and current budget, but he seemed to need to burn some energy, so I put him in a Gymboree-like class.  It was $10 a session for five sessions.  I think it was actually better for us than going to a franchise, because it was a fraction of the price and class size but had more opportunities for individual creative play (I'm basing this on just a trial class we had with a franchise company).

It was bittersweet saying goodbye to the class.  Naomi was there at Isaac's age, and this would likely be the last time I'd ever step foot in that wonderful room again.  The city had accidentally listed Naomi's name for the class, so when her name was called out, I was surprisingly flooded with emotion remembering her name being called out as a 2- and then 3-year-old.  Lucas had never been in the class.  I figured it wouldn't be his thing, and I wasn't allowed to bring Naomi in with him anyway.  

Isaac really enjoyed the class from beginning to end.  They sang the same songs they did when Naomi was young, only now instead of the CD player, they used an iPad and speakers.  Same parachute, clown pop-ups, bubbles, and stamps at the end.  Why mess with something good?  Isaac was often very sweet and smiley, and the teacher really liked him.  She often gave him extra stamps or special attention.

His favorite for a while was the high bridge.  It used to be lower in Naomi's days.

Jump, jump, jump!  By the end he was doing a few tricks.

He looks Chinese here.  lol

Batter up.

Jumping around the tire.

He really liked dancing inside this octagon.

Everybody loves the parachute!

Bubble time!