5th birthday party

Everyone got their face or arm painted by Jeanine the face painter and balloon lady. http://www.jeanine.balloonhq.com/.

Cake and lunch in the backyard.

Everyone also got a balloon twisted into various shapes.

5 yr olds can be very patient, waiting for their balloons.

From left to right: Bridget O, Rhea, Bridget G, Isabelle, Jessica, Lauren, Sylvie, Katie, Eva, and Mattie. Evan was in the back and chose not to be in the picture.

Princess cake, of course. What else is there?

Take me out to the ballgame

We took Jessie to her first baseball game.

Tailgating in the back of Sandy's VW Wagon before the game was fun.

Our seats were way up in the nose bleeds.

We left after the seventh inning stretch - Giants 2 Mets 0. Jessie got a pink Giants cap so she's ready for the next game.

Swing sequence

Quick movement to the ball,

racket back early,

eyes on ball,

nice balance,

What's up with the high leg kick on the follow-through?

Here's the video.

Pump it up party

It was a busy social weekend for Jessie with birthday parties on Saturday and Sunday. This was Kyle's (Jessie's preschool-mate, carpool-mate, playdate, and neighbor) party at Pump-it-up - two rooms full of inflatable slides, obstacle courses and jumpy rooms.

The place is really fun for Dads too. Imagine competitive receding middle-aged men racing each other through a varicolored inflatable obstacle course meant for 4 year old kids - I wish I had a video of it. I'm happy to report none of the Dads got hurt in the race.

I, I mean, Jessie is looking forward to the next party there.