It was that time again and as we had done in many years past,

2005
2004 and 2004 party

2003
2001 birthday and 2001 party
and 2000 we were ready to celebrate though we did pause for a second to bemoan that in 2002 my camera was broken and there was a shortage of new digital cameras.

But, this didn't stop us from saluting Ben as he picked up his things from the steps and found his way into the car to head to school

Some hours later, the table was set the decorations were hung and Sarah and Ed appeared to admire the gold fish (still alive!) as we got tortillas and tacos and sauces ready and Ben and Jane got ready for the tomato and mozzarella as Ben sat down and admired all the foods that would make Ben a happy boy at a Mexican banquet as Suzanne Ben Jane Sarah Ed and I sat around the table and at the next round of photos, it was Ben Jane Sarah Ed me and Suzanne before I admired the decorations and did a study in Ben

and then another round of Jane Sarah Ed me and Jane before we admired the sweater for Mackenzie which was too small for Ben as Jane gathered balloons and saw that the sweater was also too small for her while she and Ben were ready for the birthday cookie though there was still rice to eat and the table had to be readied for the cookie as the sweater was moved to the bear and Sarah showed her badge as the cake appeared and Ben blew out the lights

amusing Jane Sarah and Ed as Suzanne cut and Ben consumed as I got my piece of cake but decided to do a collage of Ben pictures

before Ben started opening presents

until he got to the Vince Carter shirt which fit to a tee and made him happy as he continued opening as the gifts mounted to be displayed by all and Ben opened more as the robots cranked along and Ben bounced the polyhedron that lit as Jane admired the basketball and Ben the heroscape as he opened the new fish which made Ben happy as we opened the new tank cleared the fish from its holding tank added water and moved the fish all of which made this a very happy birthday for Ben