The Brookston Family Blog
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We all had a blast at Parker’s birthday party on Saturday. There was truly something for everyone there. We’re very grateful that Porter has finally been able to cultivate friendships with his schoolmates and I’m sure it’s been very good for him, as well. Thanks very much to Pablo and Moninca for inviting us and Porter to their son’s birthday party.

Sarah with Alice during a rare quite moment.

Alice in her sunglasses that were in the prize packet every party attendee received.

Porter in his blue sunglasses.

“It’s Slinky, it’s Slinky. For fun it’s a wonderful toy!”

The whole family.

While I’m told by Parkers parents, Monica and Pablo, that Porter’s protest had little to do with their decision to have Parker open his presents after all, I’m sure he felt victorious nonetheless.

Parker opens his first gift while Dad, Pablo, and Porter and Reese look on.

Porter watches closely as Parker opens the gift that Porter brought him, a stomp rocket!

Sarah wrangles Porter and Alice as the packages are opened one by one.

Parker’s Mom, Monica, helps him open a long present as Porter, never too far from the action, looks on.

My cousin Matt, who’s also my godson — though to be fair I am undoubtedly the worst godfather in history — sent us some great news last night. According to his e-mail, a woman he met while working at a camp here in northern California in 2003 has agreed to … well let me share the story in his own words.

“I recently asked a wonderful woman, Leah, to hang out with me for the rest of our lives and she said “Yes!”

So while that may be somewhat vague to the rest of us, it seems perfectly reasonable if you know Matt. Leah is from Australia and is working on a PhD in Melbourne so Matt will be moving there to be with her by the end of the summer, assuming all goes well with the mountain of paperwork they had to fill out. Congratulations to them as they begin what will undoubtedly be an exciting journey, and not just geographically, but emotionally and spiritually, as well.

Leah and my cousin Matt, obviously getting in touch with our Amish roots.

Leah and Matt, somewhere in Oregon?

For those of you who weren’t aware, our friend Kristine, who lives in Boise, Idaho, got some very good news today. Her father, who had lapsed into unconsciousness Saturday night, woke up around eleven this morning, a bit confused but none the worse for the wear. They still need to do more tests but at least he appears okay right now and has been moved to a regular room. I’d like to believe it was the positive vibes she asked all of us to send her Dad’s way and who knows — maybe it was — but having sat by my estranged father’s bed during the last week of his life, I know just how difficult that can be. So I wish her and father all the best and if not a speedy recovery, then a slow one, as long as it’s a recovery. That’s the important thing.

After the cake was eaten and much running around was done, Porter insisted it was then time for Parker to open his presents. The only problem was, his parents were thinking that it would be easier for them to open them at home, which quite frankly made sense. To protest this decision, Porter climbed the big tree next to the table with the presents on it.

Climbing up the tree.

Sitting in protest.

Giving the revolutionary protest sign, the raspberry.

“I’m not coming down until presents are opened!”

“Give me my camera, Daddy. I want to take a picture.”

Me from the tree, taken by a protesting Porter.

At Parker’s birthday party on Saturday, they had an arts and crafts table set up to keep the kids occupied and give them something to do when they got tired from running around in the park.

The arts and crafts table.

Parker (at left) tries his hand at the art table.

Ms. Liza helps out at the arts and crafts table (in center wearing light blue).

Ms. Liza helps Porter with — what else? — a yellow giraffe.

Porter shows off an artistic rendering of his name.

On Saturday Porter attended his first official birthday party. It was for his friend Parker, who he attends Montessori with. He’s actually know Parker for over two years since he was at Montessori when Porter first started there when we first moved to Marin. The party was outdoors at Miller Creek Park, but you already knew that. It was great fun, with all of Porter’s friends from his Montessori and even Ms. Liza and Ms. Kashi from his Montessori were there.

The party was Madagascar themed and they had this great cake with the main four animals, including the giraffe Melman.

A close-up of the animals on the cake.

Alice and other party-goers enjoying a spot of lunch.

While Porter checks out the table of presents.

Then everybody lined up around the cake to sing happy birthday.

Alice strains to see the action at the other end of the table.

Parker, the birthday boy (in blue), surrounded by friends around his cake.

Parker’s Mom, Monica, cutting the cake.

Which Porter inhaled by the forkful.

And Alice enjoyed her sugar rush, as well.

Look at her grip on that fork and the cake residue on her face.

Porter and friends enjoying more cake.

The party-goers pose for a picture.

Here’s a Quicktime movie of everybody singing happy birthday to Parker. You can either download the movie to your desktop or just click on the link to play it in your web browser (assuming your web browser has the quicktime plug-in installed).