Eli's 5th birthday

For Eli's birthday, we decided to stick with tradition and make it a 10am to 2pm affair, with games, food, gifts and cake. Eli was the quality control for the chocolate cake I made for him (I like this recipe --no eggs, so he could lick the mixers without me worrying!):

I'm glad we have a big kitchen table to accomodate all the friends that were able to make it! I was especially appreciative of the parents that also stayed to do crowd control and help out.
This is one side of the table:

And here's the other: Notice all the cut-up vegetables! What was I thinking!? There was way too much healthy food for this group, but you can't say I didn't try.

Here Eli is starting to fade and he's probably thinking, "I like the presents, it's the sharing I don't want to do!"

Dana and her friend Emma weren't too interested in Eli's new toys. They decided to sit in the toy box and catch up on old times, just like their moms like to do from time to time.

It was a wonderful, tiring day and I could hardly believe that I've been at this mom thing for five years now. How does that happen!?