Henry's birthday party

Henry turned six on June 3. It was a rainy enough day that we had to hold most of the party indoors. Fortunately our friends are nice and all 20+ kids behaved themselves.

Because it could have been chaos!  Anyway it was warm enough that we had the ceiling fan going, which is what blew out the candles.

 

Eventually we got them relit and Henry got to try blowing them out, too.

Aren't these pictures amazing? Like one of those camera commercials - you can even see the wisp of candle smoke etc. Thanks to our friend Niel Mayle for taking them.





Esti had fun too, because a bunch of Henry's friends (both boys and girls, btw) brought their younger siblings. And she got very good at saying: "And I'm going to be three in September."

Panther's Cave

Staying up tonight to make CD cases and bake two cakes - lemon poppyseed and chocolate, at Henry's request - for Henry's sixth birthday party tomorrow.  It's supposed to be a big playdate in a park, with like three dozen of Henry's friends/their parents/siblings promising to show up.  We just hope it doesn't rain.  Plan B is our living room.  Oh but I did buy fresh baking powder this year, unlike last year - so even if the afternoon is total chaos, at least the cakes should be more than half an inch tall.
Why am I bothering to do all this?  1) because I am willfully culturally illiterate as to party supply stores, professional cakes, prefab party places, and other conventions of modern parenting; 2) because (tfoo, tfoo, as my grandma would have said) my son is such an amazing guy.

How can I say this with such confidence, having had, after all, no other sons for comparison?  Well.  Here for instance of amazingness are the chords and lyrics to "Panther's Cave," one of the songs on Henry's birthday CD (which he'll be giving out to guests as a party favor).  BTW the cave is a real place, a fun rockpile in the Middlesex Fells.  Henry started writing the song with Dan, finished with me, and it's unclear who had the song-within-a-song idea but I kind of think it was his and my joint brainstorm.  Mp3 by email on request.

  Am

I went to Panther’s Cave

            Dm                 Am

I was having so much fun.

      Am

I decided to explore

            Dm     Am

But uh-oh, run.

  Am   

I saw a flash of claws

            Dm                 Am

And teeth as sharp as razors.

     Am

It smelled like rotten pickles

            E7

He had EYES JUST LIKE RED LASERS!

            Am

He had brownish blackish fur

            Dm                             Am

And moving straight toward me.

            Am

He stepped into the light,

            E7

And NOW I COULD SEE:

F                      C    E7

GRR! Help! A pan-ther!

F                      C    E7

Get me out of here.

F                      C    E7

I never met a pan-ther,

F                                  Am

But now I’m filled with fear.

        Am

And then I heard a gulp:

     Dm                        Am

He swallowed me right down.

            Am

His throat was black as coal

            E7

I was MOVING STRAIGHT INBOUND!

Am

I had to make a plan…

[C]

I know, I’ll throw a dance party!!

[Twist and Shout in C –

first verse]

   Am

I danced and stomped my feet

            E7

And twirled just like a comet.

            Am

"A bellyache!" he screamed,

            E7

And THEN HE HAD TO VOMIT!

F                      C    E7

"BLAH!  Help!  A DAN-CER!

F                      C    E7

Get him out of here.

F                      C    E7

He’d never met a pan-ther,

F                                        Am

And please don’t let him near!"

Author's circle video

or uncropped here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9lvbb1lU9o&feature=g-upl