Birthday week

Martin didn't have a birthday party, per se, for his first birthday. Because of the hectic nature of our schedules this month, we kind of had a series of mini-parties. It all began last weekend, when I stupidly bravely planned to go tent camping with my parents and sister, five hours away from home. We went to see my nieces in the world's greatest amateur circus and also to celebrate Martin's birthday with his godparents (parents to my circus-nieces). Joe had to work last weekend, so this plan was entirely my own.

The camper in the background belongs to my parents. The kids and I shared a tent with my sister on the same site.

It was...surprisingly not nearly as bad as I expected. The kids actually slept. Of course, Olivia bounced around for 2 hours past bedtime until Aunt Lori offered her some earplugs and she promptly fell fast asleep. I then declared earplugs to be the best invention ever.

So, sleep was had by all, but as is the case with camping, you never get as much sleep as you are used to getting at home. After a couple of days of this, we were all exhausted and kind of grumpy. I just...don't get camping.

Anyway, we had a little get-together at the campsite with those of us camping and godparents/cousins coming in for lunch, followed by cake and lake swimming. It was low key, easy to pull off, and everyone had a nice time.

Yeah, yeah, it's my birthday!

On Saturday, I drove 90 minutes from the campsite to pick up Martin's birthmother and then 90 minutes back so we could all enjoy circus festival parade day, followed by the circus performance. Exhausting, but worth it.

Very blurry photo of my nieces in what is called low-casting, but looks very much like flying trapeze (which they also have later in the show). Kids in this circus are all from this county, age 7-21. They are AMAZING!

Yes, that is a tight wire. Yes, those are children balancing on children balancing on a tight wire. Yes there is a net. No, they did not need to use it. No, I'm not related to any of the kids in the tight wire act. They are just amazing.

The circus was spellbinding, as usual. I am just amazed at the things these kids do. And they have this whole army of riggers (volunteers, mostly parents) who race around setting up and tearing down nets, wires, ladders, mats...everything that is used in each of these acts. And a bunch of the riggers are also spotters (those guys poised below the low-casters to catch anyone who fails to catch the bar). Spotters are used for most acts. Things like the high wire and the flying trapeze, though, have their own full nets. All of which are set up by volunteers. I just...am amazed by the coordination required to put on this "amateur" show. It is fascinating.

Sunday we were back home with Daddy, and celebrated Martin's birthday with dinner at Grammy and Grampy's. Monday we rested.

Martin's actual birthday (Tuesday) was pretty low-key. We spent some time with cousins at a local museum, put Martin down for a long afternoon nap, had all of this favorite foods for dinner with Daddy at home, then went to Local Theme Park for a couple of hours of fun. The musicians at the park's show sang happy birthday to him.

And a good time was had by all.