Cammi's 3rd Birthday Party!

As many of you know Cam is O to the B, s.e.ss.ed.

OBSESSED w/2 things. First Trains.

Obsess as defined in Web*sters: 1)to haunt or excessively preoccupy the mind of
2)to engage in obsessive thinking.

At this stage planes as well but during the summer leading up to the big 03 we were fixated on all things trains.

(Her airplane Obsession would be accurately portrayed by W*sters:A persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling: A COMPELLING MOTIVATION.
What?!?!?)

This particular birthday Always overwhelms me. Due to the fact it is pre, pre, I mean pre-school. As in 3 weeks prior to the start date here. We are in full force operation "finalize-every single-summer-desire-you-had-up-till-now-but-did-not -get-around-to".

Added to the stress this year is a BIG FIRST. Em's first day of out-side school. And any first is always emotional for me as a mom, no matter which way I try to look at it. Stress. Pressure. Tears. Fear. Excitement. Can you say D-RA-MA! I am not sure how my friends who have year after year of firsts manage to stay completely sane.

I haven't even told you the most crazy part of this story yet. Grandma D. came to visit. Grandma actually wanted to be here for Em's first day of school and we decided to celebrate Cam's b-day at the same time. We always cram way to much in to way to little time.

BUT WE HAD A BLAST!

The 2nd thing Cam's in Love w/ is a cartoon person. D*ora! Animals, Binoculars, D*iego.

Mike and I had failed to secure a train ride and I was frustrated. When i was furiously punching in to G00g*le train rides an ideal recourse landed on the list.

I meshed together all of her favorite things and people this summer. We took 2 of her friends to the Cleve*land Z00*. Brilliance!!!

Observe:

The much anticipated train ride we so smartly saved till the very end of our day.

On the first bench. Ab, Mike and Zach.


Rounding out our group on the 3rd bench. Grandma D. Birthday girl, Notice how tired and dirty:) and Em.


Getting to talk w/everyone and see their expressions on the 2nd bench. Kaya and Me.

The train stopped for an actual arms length distance view of a Joey. I was kind of grossed out really. I won't go into the likeness of humans and kangaroos. . . .


Waiting in line for the trains the kids wound up under the water sprayer. It was hot and a good idea until we remembered the kids had ice cream and cotton candy. It was a sticky mess. Mike loved it. Not!!!

But I turned around and he was so kindly wiping of all the little wet hands that were so gooey and happened to belong to other people.
He loves Cam.


Mike raising the kids up to see 1 of the 2 animals we actually were able to view. Not because they weren't out but because we were busy tending 2-2 year olds, 1-3 year old, 1-5 year old and 1-7 year old while walking and walking and walking and you get the picture.


The invitees: Zack who turns 3 in September and Cam and Kaya who turns 3 in January. Unable to make it was Mason (Cam's first cousin- who turns 3 in October). Ab always gets so mad that Cam is the oldest of her friends. Ab is not.

Resting and Eating at a very private restaurant in the Rainforest. According to the map and description we were eating at a sit down eatery. Little did I know I would be the waitress!
But it was most definitely worth the air-conditioning, privacy and good eats!

Thanks mom for coming and caring.
Thanks Mike for taking off work to make Cam's little world so special!

I'd also like to thank And and Star for letting me borrow your children.

I can't leave out Ab and Em (who actually read what I write) for helping boss er guide the little kids. I loved having Team Captains:)

Believe it or not, this party made my job a whole lot easier this year.