We got away with a single birthday party for Kade and Sierra again this year. Laura had spent several months steering Sierra away from a princess theme and towards something more gender neutral. She was successful in the end, as evidenced by the Cars jumpy house and cake visible in the video. After some anxious moments, we also did OK on the weather; hard rain the night before was followed by partly cloudy skies. We served chicken nuggets to the children and mimosas to the adults – a good time for all. Hana made a cameo appearance between her jobs at the YMCA and at Apple- we had a separate dinner for her at Chez TJ on the 27th.
This was the year for cameras as gifts. Sierra and Kade both got Fisher Price fixed focus digital cameras. We had been looking for something simple and durable enough for small children- these are great.
Kade and Sierra are still learning photography. Initially, Kade sometimes holds the camera backwards- it’s a surprise when the flash goes off. His initial pictures are a little avant garde:
Sierra has more of the idea, but needs to work on her framing:
Hana got a new camera as well – a Nikon D200. This one is more sophisticated; serious use awaits finals and AP’s.
Notes: With all the party preparations, we didn’t take as many shots as we would have liked; thanks to Suzette Gulsen and to David Fleming for stepping into the breach.