A Bouncing Birthday

My nephew bouncing at me...

Yesterday was my nephew's 7th birthday, so we trekked down to a "bounce place" for the third year in a row. A good time was had by all, despite the fact that three kids ended up in tears and every single one of them went home in a sweaty sugar-rush. Or, I suppose perhaps that's why they had a good time... I don't know, I don't understand kids. Without photographic evidence to the contrary, I'd have a hard time believing I ever was one.

At any rate, why don't I let the pictures speak for themselves?


My mother's cake creation for this year was the surface of a planet from one of the new Star Wars movies, called Camino, I think. At any rate, it was a big hit with the kids. My nephew brought people one by one as they arrived to see the cake. I love to think about the memories he'll have of the cakes my mother's made for each of his birthdays.


(L) The interior of one of the bounce structures, with kids flying everywhere. (R) My nephew coming down the giant slide.


(L) More bouncing in the enclosed structure - that's my nephew in yellow in mid-air. (R) Oh, there were tears - this poor kid got some body part in the head just before cake-time. He was back in the saddle, bouncing again, not much later.


(L) Party-goers, between bounce-sessions, refuel for more bouncing energy. (R) My nephew opens some of his gifts (about 95% of which were Star Wars-related) with my mother looking on.


One of my nephew's gifts was a Yoda doll that talks when you squeeze its hand. My mother squealed, "Oh, Yoda's my favorite!" when he opened it. She had to hold the box to her ear to hear Yoda's wisdom (bounce places are very loud). My nephew might have to keep an eye on her around that doll, lest she make off with it when he's not paying attention.


Chris (L) and Brother Caleb (R) obviously love the bounce place.