We officially started the birthday festivities on 10/6, with Blaine’s birthday celebration at school.  We brought in mini-cupcakes and Blaine got to wear a crown all day!

On Saturday, 10/7, Gram and Grand-dad came to visit!  Here’s Gram riding on a boat with Blaine and Sarah.

The next day, 10/8, was Blaine’s actual birthday!  He’d requested chocolate ice cream in lieu of cake, so we broke out the ice cream maker.  Once we got it churning, Blaine got to go on a birthday trip to the Museum of Natural History with Daddy, Gram, and Grand-dad.

Sarah was sad to miss the museum, but she got to lick the ice cream parts so that made up for it, somewhat.

Gram and Grand-dad went back to VA after the museum (thanks for visiting!!), and Daddy and Blaine took the train back out to Larchmont.  Blaine was so excited he was old enough to need his own ticket.  The train conductor even punched it in the shape of a smiley face for him.

After Sarah’s nap we sang to Blaine and he blew out the candle on his ice cream.  I think this may have been the best chocolate ice cream I’ve ever had, all thanks to Dana Cree and her book, “Hello, My Name is Ice Cream.”  Dana Cree was the pastry chef at a restaurant in Seattle we liked called Poppy.  I used to love to get the “caramel corn” sundae for dessert.  She moved on, and I was always so sad to never get that yummy sundae again.  So I was thrilled when I heard she’d written a book about making ice cream.  Mmmmmmm…

After ice cream it was present time!  Blaine is working on thank you cards, but in the meantime thank you to everyone who sent him gifts!!

Lastly we had Blaine’s favorite dinner, spaghetti and meatballs, before heading to bed.

Happy birthday, Blaine!  I can’t believe that you are already five years old.