Birthday season

Autumn and the start of school means birthday season 'round these parts. Given that putting up posts has been low on the survival priority list, I'm lumping them all together here.

First up: Josiah turned 9 in mid-September. Last year of single digits? Halfway to being out of the house?! For his birthday dinner, he requested spinach salad with what we've called for years "Josiah's favorite salad dressing," meat pie (fourth year running), and a robot themed chocolate cake. He was a happy boy! And he graciously let an eager little brother help blow out candles, open gifts, and share the spotlight in general.

Happy with a new-to-him bike.
(Nannan and Papa White joined the festivities by Skype!) 

Excited for his robotic spider from big sis Hélène.

Aquatic robots plus clothes from Mama Cas and PopPop. 

 *  *  *

A few weeks later it was William's turn: six!! Given that he's only just moved into size 4 toddler trousers, I still can imagine William is my baby...but in reality he's 100% "big kid" at this point. We're so proud of how well he's done in the last year. He continues to be a smallish package of enormous emotions, and we wouldn't trade him for the world.  :)

I should note that he was enormously offended (screaming and throwing of objects) when he learned that we live in a world where people have to go to school and work on birthdays. Fortunately we crossed this conceptual bridge a week before the Day Of, and by the time October 2 arrived, he was content with opening a card over breakfast and saving his gifts and family party for after school.

Think he looks pleased here? (Somehow the pile of loot from family members became surprisingly formidable...)

William's dinner request was homemade Hawaiian pizza. Yum!

And a baseball, blueberry birthday cake.

Another quick Skype call with Nannan and Papa, hooray!

 *  *  *

And finally, just a few days later, we celebrated Hélène turning 18!! Unfortunately Jesse was in Rwanda (still is there, in fact), but with lots of family in town, we didn't miss him tooooo badly.

Her dinner request was a Mexican feast. Delicious! 

And lemon meringue pie for dessert. I went for individual little tartlet versions
(along with some jam tarts for anyone who preferred). So yummy.

We celebrated her birthday a day early, on Sunday, since it was easier than doing it after work on Monday (the actual day). But...we saved family presents for Monday night so the birthday itself wouldn't pass without at least a little fanfare! The boys got her a little plush golden retriever puppy, since Hélène's been missing her beloved golden retriever Vic back home in France.