party success!!! it was SO FUN! i am very proud of myself, if i may say so. though i let the ice cream cake melt by accident. we refroze it, and it was fine, if not a bit droopy. the kids took to the painting instantly, and they all made a huge mess, but one that was pretty much on the paper and table. some clothes were shot, but i don't think anyone minded. the bucket of suds was a huge hit too. ava was so incredibly excited that her friends were here, at her house, playing with her, for her birthday. she was a great host, and really rose to the occasion. the kids all liked the food, and then ava started spreading the word (without input from me) that it was time for cake...she started a minor revolution, and all of the kids finished their snacks asap. ice cream cake is the way to go. she actually eats it, vs licking just the icing off. after cake, we had presents, and after presents everyone sort of slowed down, and ava and leena made a fort in the living room, and they were sort of relaxing when suddenly leena said "LET'S GO SWIMMING!!" and off to the dock we went--everyone got in the water, and continued to have fun. there was a struggle over the diving rings, but it worked out. ava showed off her swimming skills, and then we all decided that we were cold, came back up to the house, got dry and then it was time to go.

the party was 3 hours, and it took me 4 hours to clean up. well worth it though. carter and dad arrived home just as i was putting the finishing touches on the house, so that was perfect.

another thing i have to write about: ava waterskiied! well, it is called a ski-skimmer, and it is basically one board that is shaped a bit like a tooth, with a big flat area and then a wide stance for her feet on the 'roots' of the tooth -- and then the rope attaches to the board, and ava holds another rope with a handle that is attached to the board as well. (one guy said "you could tow a horse on that thing!") this way the boat pulls the board, not her arms. it is super cool, and she started out on the platform behind the boat with dad holding the rope and then slowly he started letting her out as we idled along. when she hit the water the board went back and forth a bit, and she looked a bit wide-eyed, and then it stabilized and she was out there, on the water, standing up, cruising along. she looked so cute--because of the width of her stance, she sort of looked like the girl at the top of a waterski pyramid. if she had let go and waved it would not have looked out of place. she never got dunked (which is more than her mother can say, but at least i got to ride), and she did not want to stop. we all cannot wait to do it again. carter thought it was too funny.

he loves to give the animals in his books wet sloppy kisses. it is pretty endearing.