Party planning, by Kevin. We never got to the “tats or stickers.”

Before.

After.

Before.

During.

We asked everyone to draw a picture of CJ.

Fooey drew a mermaid instead.

Worms in mud. Our nod to holding the party on April Fool’s Day.

Deconstructing worms in mud.

CJ’s theme was “Indoor/Outdoor,” which he never fully explained, although we did end the party outside, in the cold, with children jumping on the trampoline. We decided to riff on a number of seasonal themes, including the one that we’re all waiting to have arrive: spring! Kevin collected and painted rocks white, so the kids could decorate them. We then had the kids choose flower bulbs from a paper bag to take home and plant — that counted for both April Fool’s (onions?!) and spring. The painted rock can mark the planting spot. And we held an Easter egg hunt, because it was Easter Monday, and because we find, at parties, that kids love looking for things. We also squeezed everyone into my office and I read them stories, a low-key entertainment method we’ve used at many a party.

Birthday parties are very hands-on and structured for this age, but this passes quickly. So we’re enjoying it while it lasts.

This kid, whose birthday comes next, and who is seen here recording the birthday proceedings, is at a different stage now: basically we could order pizza, stock up on junk food, and let him stay up late with friends, with as little supervision as we could stand, and that would pretty much cover it.