Birthday Party for the Fantastic Four

Soon after Franklin's birth, we were amazed to find that there were three other little guys in our immediate circle of friends, who were born within the same week.

So of course we had to throw a party for them.  Because one year olds love nothing more than a great party.  One gorgeous fall day, our friends Ruth and Rob hosted the shindig at their fabulous place.  We rented a bouncy castle and the Newmans had a second one that we kept indoors.

From left to right, the foursome were Franklin, Brandon, Jamison, and Oliver.

Our friend Karen (Brandon's mom) made matching shirts.  Here's Ollie and Ruth.

Jamison's mom, Vienna, made four gorgeous cakes for the boys.

Franklin initially looked intrigued.

"What do I do with this stuff on my hands?"

He considers it carefully.

Aviva was amused.

"Help me, Daddy.  There is a mysterious substance on my hands."

Meanwhile, Franklin's compatriot Brandon, who normally never sheds a tear, was having none of it.  His brother Andrew seized the opportunity to sample the icing.

Happy birthday, Franklin!  

Aviva's Song (from 2010)

A few months before Aviva was born, South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup Tournament. It was an amazing introduction to southern Africa for us. The theme song to the event was Shakira's "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa."

It was enormously popular that year, and it will always remind me of Aviva's first days in this world, so it's only appropriate that it was the song accompanying her dance routine (learned at school.)