Cora's third birthday

Coraline Keller Jensen is 3! She loved hearing the story of her birth this year; it became her favorite story for about three days. "Tell me about when I was borned," she would say.

The morning of Cora's third birthday

And the temperature outside and in

The Celebration of Cora lasted for four days, starting with birthday events on Thursday at preschool. I was the parent helper and thus was responsible for snacks and a birthday treat (cupcakes made by me and Cora). And Cora's teacher, Mrs. Foote, really makes the day special for the birthday kid by having a crown, a gift (book, which the parent then reads to the whole class), and activities for all the kids that include decorating big birthday signs.

Cora eating snack and sitting below her special signs
decorated by the class.

When your parent is a helper at school for the day,
your job is to help set up snack for the class.
Here is Cora distributing grapes.

The new play-and-learn station at preschool was installed that day,
so I was a patient for a whole class of doctors giving shots and taking temperatures.
Later, Cora switched from doctor to patient, too, and
here are Cora's buddies Gianna, Amelia, and Aiden taking care of her.

This year we finally went beyond a family-only party for Cora and put on a whole toddler shindig, and it was a blast for adults and kids alike. We decided to make it parent-friendly by having a birthday party / happy hour at 5:30pm on Friday evening. Nate had the brilliant idea of doing the party in the garage and outside with a bonfire, and luckily the weather cooperated by being cold and snowy but not at all windy.

Cora drew her trademark "bugs" to decorate the invitations.

Nate cleared out the whole garage and he decorated it with twinkle lights and a kid-sized table for activities and dinner. I decided to make hand-sewn felt crowns that each kid could decorate with glitter glue and ribbons and stickers, and I made a big dinner chosen by the birthday girl: macaroni and cheese "with carrots and peas and broccoli in it", along with lots of munchy appetizers. We also had warm cider for the kids, and big-kid drinks for the adults.

Appetizers along the wall and crowns awaiting decoration

That's the "bar" along the back wall

On the night of the party, dear Skylar, Aunt Janet (Mimi) and Uncle Peter (Papa Pete) arrived from Vermont to help with last-minute preparations and to celebrate with us. I put Janet to work making about 300 meatballs, including gluten free ones (using cornmeal instead of breadcrumbs) which were a huge hit. Skylar and Pete helped Nate prepare the bonfire pit.

Then it was time for fun! Cora's friends from daycare (Lucy, Wyatt, and Riley; and Renee too) and playgroups (Leo, Laurel, though sadly Daryoush and Azadeh cancelled at the last moment) began arriving with their parents, and everyone mingled between the bonfire outside, the snacks and drinks in the garage, and the toys and warmth of the living room upstairs. It was a free for all, and it was great. Crowns were decorated, apples were roasted, and meatballs were inhaled.

Cora and her BFF, Lucy, tear into the cupcakes

We sang "happy birthday" over cupcakes and a candle, and eventually nearly everyone ended up in the living room drinking Baron's wine while the kids played and -- as they got tired toward 8:30 pm -- snuggled on the couch. The moms went through 5 bags of hand-me-downs I had reserved. The dads decided we should do this family happy hour thing on a monthly basis.

The next morning, our family plus Janet and Pete and Skylar made a special trip to the SPCA to donate $12 raised in lieu of gifts at Cora's party. The kids loved seeing where Crouton came from, and meeting the one-eyed and other scruffy cats.

Thank you, SPCA!

We love you, Miss Cora.