First came Jeremy and Sam IMG_0459 IMG_0460 who headed out with Ben to start the basketball game IMG_0461 IMG_0462 IMG_0463 IMG_0464 IMG_0465 which became part of the board game party. As I recorded the welcome window IMG_0466 I recalled previous Ben birthday's including

2004 and 2004 party

2003
and 2001 birthday and 2001 party
and 2000 with the sad observation that in 2002 my camera was broken and there was a shortage of new digital cameras.

at which point it was time to return to the basketball game IMG_0467 IMG_0468 IMG_0469 IMG_0470 IMG_0471 as Betsy and Bobby Sands IMG_0472 arrived and the game grew IMG_0473 IMG_0474 IMG_0475 IMG_0476 IMG_0477 IMG_0478 though I took a break for a self portrait IMG_0479 as others arrived and played IMG_0480 IMG_0481 and the recycling IMG_0482 rested and the cake (not a cake! but brownies) IMG_0483 was on display and Josephine IMG_0484 finished up as Ben Strauss IMG_0485 IMG_0486 joined the game IMG_0487 IMG_0488 for my artistic picture of the ball on stones IMG_0489 as a larger game IMG_0490 made room for Nate IMG_0491 who brought this card IMG_0492 and came with Hannah and Laura IMG_0493 The game continued IMG_0494 even as spectators arrived IMG_0495 and wondered whether to call fouls IMG_0496 but instead we brought people in for board games IMG_0497 IMG_0498 as the shoes were neatly lined up IMG_0499 to Suzanne's amusement IMG_0500 as the monopoly phase of the party IMG_0501 IMG_0502 IMG_0503 IMG_0504 IMG_0505 IMG_0506 progressed as Jane and John IMG_0507 drove off IMG_0508 to get the hoagies and Audrey IMG_0509 appeared to drop off Joel IMG_0510 so that the games IMG_0511 IMG_0512 could continue even as Sarah arrived home and opened IMG_0513 and displayed IMG_0514 IMG_0515 her Race for the Cure special edition shoes. After a few more rolls of the dice IMG_0516 IMG_0517 the games were over and it was hoagie time IMG_0518 as the guests assembled around the table IMG_0519 IMG_0520 and Sarah ate IMG_0521 while telling stories. The views around the table IMG_0522 IMG_0523 IMG_0524 IMG_0525 amused Jane and her friends IMG_0526 as we took one last photo IMG_0527 and then set up the basketball under the lights game IMG_0528 before brining out the cake IMG_0529 IMG_0530 IMG_0531 getting ready IMG_0532 blowing out the candles IMG_0533 and enjoying the decorations IMG_0534 as Ben got IMG_0535 and opened IMG_0536 the one gift that would be relevant to the party. Afterwards, some watched the Incredibles and some played Apples to Apples. Being in the latter group, I gave up my role as photo journalist.

Three days later, it was Ben's real birthday, I began my celebration by meeting with Sukru Hanioglu IMG_0537 of Near Eastern Studies and Ted Rabb IMG_0538 of History. Coming home to see Ben IMG_0539 IMG_0540 int he birthday hat was a step forward as the decorations IMG_0541 IMG_0542 IMG_0543 were set and Ben opened the diet snapple IMG_0544 for Suzanne IMG_0545 as we ate the pasta IMG_0546 and Ben performed IMG_0547 IMG_0548 IMG_0549 to the amusement of Jane IMG_0550 Suzanne IMG_0551 and me IMG_0552 IMG_0553 IMG_0554 who didn't seem to get a good self portrait and needed help IMG_0555 to fit intot he frame. Next was the present opening IMG_0556 IMG_0557 IMG_0558 IMG_0559 IMG_0560 IMG_0561 IMG_0562 IMG_0563 IMG_0564 IMG_0565 IMG_0566 IMG_0567 IMG_0568 IMG_0569 IMG_0570 IMG_0571 IMG_0572 IMG_0573 IMG_0574 IMG_0575 IMG_0576 with a predominant theme of basketball IMG_0577 and gift cards IMG_0578 IMG_0579 keeping the balloons happy IMG_0580 as more gift cards IMG_0581 IMG_0582 IMG_0583 IMG_0584 IMG_0585 appeared along with this elegant birthday card IMG_0586 with a barely readable message IMG_0587 as we assembled a few cards IMG_0588 looked at a gift IMG_0589 or two IMG_0590 IMG_0591 and set things aside waiting for Ben's twelfth birthday.