This year the home for disabled persons in our town had it’s annual fundraising party on the same weekend as Nick’s birthday. We always have a good time there, so it was rather serendipitous, especially since he is now at the age where he doesn’t want a party with friends. It was gorgeous weather, and we all enjoyed the walk through the forest to get there. 
Isn’t it a gorgeous setting?
We started off the festivities with several rides on the slide.
When we had had our fill of sliding, it was off to the bounce house. Since there was no one else there, all the kids got to go on it together.
The human powered carousel is always a big hit. This year, Nick took a turn pedaling so the other kids could spin in circles. 🙂
When he and the main operator guy were too dizzy and tired to pedal any longer, I pedaled it all by myself for the kids. It is very disorienting to be pedaling a bike, that doesn’t move, but the centrifugal force generated kept you leaning hard to the side, like you were about to fall off. I finally just had to close my eyes and pedal, so I wouldn’t throw up!
Sophie and Noah were the only ones who decided to go on the pony rides, though. When we actually got close to them, Noah almost chickened out. But there was another kid, even smaller, who was already climbing on a pony. When I pointed him out to Noah, and told him that if that kid could do it, so could Noah, he decided to try. I was happy that he wasn’t letting his fear of the unknown ruin his chance for fun.
They both loved it, even though Noah’s pony was very last because it had to stop and relieve itself just after they had started walking. 🙂
We also went down into the old coal mine for a tour, and watched the whole movie on the history of the mine. Then we needed to leave so Sophie could get to her friend Bell’s birthday party on time. She came back home in time to have dinner and cake with Nick.
Isn’t he a handsome teenager?
I tried to lit sparklers for his cake, but by the time I got the second one lit, the first one was almost out! Should have used a candle and lit them all at the same time. Oh well.
Nick still loves the same birthday cake I made for him when he turned one! Oatmeal cake, no frosting. It is pretty tasty stuff!
We had ordered him a game online, but it didn’t arrive in time for his birthday. Still there was his favorite, kind of expensive cheese to savor all to himself. 
Monk Cheese! Tete de Moine!
Then, copying what was done at Sarah’s party, we wrapped the coupon for the game in several layers of wrapping paper. bwahahaha!
There weren’t any movies he wanted to see, or that were appropriate for him, playing in the theater. So he stayed up with us and watched one of Chris and I’s all time favorites for the first time; The Mummy, starring Brandon Frasier. It was just the right amount of scary, creepy, adventurous and funny for him. Plus it had a dash of Egyptian history in it, which he always loves.
Happy Birthday, Nick. You are one terrific teenager!