Katie's Birthday Party - We Survived!

So today was Katie's 6 year old Birthday Party. At first I was a little disappointed with the number of kids that couldn't make it. Their reasons ranged from understandable to obviously fake:
Understandable: Piano Recital - of course you've been practicing all year and can't miss it.
Questionable: Hebrew Class and Dutch Class - so your kids have extra school on Tuesdays. They can't miss one day? A Birthday party has got to be more fun than Dutch class.
Obviously Fake: I'm going to South Africa - If you don't want to go, just say so. No need to pretend to be out of the country.

I can see that Katie's Birthday party is going to be a challenge each year. There is too much stuff going on at the end of the school year. That's why we had it on a Tuesday after school. Memorial Day (Whit Monday over here) weekend is no good since families go away. Next weekend we have her ballet recital. Last year was the same thing, with people going away for vacation, etc.

One thing I did learn was that girls are busy with activities but apparently boys are not. Of her 8 friends from school that came to the party only 1 was a girl (her best friend Anya from Russia). As I said, at first I was disappointed that only 8 out of 14 could make it. After 15 minutes, I wished that a few more were not available.

We had her birthday at a place in the mall called Kölyök Park. Picture a ginormous McDonald's PlayLand and you begin to get the picture. The boys were CRAZY, running around non-stop. The party started at 3:30 and by 3:45 Anna & I were praying for it to be over.

The important part is that Katie had a GREAT time and so did her friends. Here are a few pictures:

Cake is good! Happy Birthday Katie!
Katie and Anya:

Katie, Anya and the Boys:
See all the pictures at our Kodak Gallery site.