We were finally able to celebrate the Man-Cub's birthday with his friends and have an actual 'party' - either they were on vacation or we were out of town or busy with a wedding - but finally our schedules meshed...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWr3Q5EpUECInVPZJhFdlEen0ajWcQVYr-4f1N0pELTuIxUgaZsLYbIIuW6Wtxev1-PweJebtHtSe-iGB_qwpCKq1134fIEzGeBPC30lnlTSinOolVkBVB0mQ5YyDVh-3IdU7ew/s320/bootcake.JPG)
We made a yummy vegan 'Cowboy Boot Cake' - using my old standby
yellow cake recipe - iced with homemade chocolate frosting - just earth balance, powdered sugar, Free Trade cocoa (Equal Exhange is the best) and a little bit of soy milk - I didn't measure anything or I'd give you a proper recipe...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmcKBHIX-zP1NwDjYVTKTLKg1lwcHwumu91YoEUaxdnSz9Fa9d8g08oL1tBnliDZEisHIiCJTwO9by4qShVuPdfgB42pKsS7_QeKxi6VgWfTQbbrq7DWK5gFheSvKDpPJcci2ng/s320/bdaytable.JPG)
The Birthday table - do you see a theme here - this is a 'Cowboy Party' - and I realize it might be my last 'themed' Birthday party as the Man-Cub grows up - he'll probably be less likely to want a 'theme'...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZgg5mZiltQ0JTrXH_9mXugoT5XvnOK0TlCwICwI1Y67oXkBSredpFTmGv3v6WqjtdY9zofA1zO-d7qoKPk-edipMtn0LBKP37nffIKfBR1X7AVJtq4jEwmR6Pc8lbn_TPJye4A/s320/favors.JPG)
One of the party favors ...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZOqPI7dTyssb6VJ1tu6yA4WwCpzc3doSXHrn4n3KpJHboL09G5786WQCOdj-kCtNcY_zV3SHlCo7bf_LjTJ_UhDFqAFdT3MGbXreCEKH6ATmL1synCfJ5JIysPv-sI8dAc-DIQ/s320/favors1.JPG)
wrapped up and tied to a stick - hobo style...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsVNTQt0KYlQOrzh2f2JoRw14GXXIGzKS3fR9WtmIg0LzjcKMXO3amu4X60aVEmmP99g7xXwGJ-sTcBEfrzxEwUf4Rd9JEMuuDxHT5y2EwO1JkDW6UI9B_52eaxBV8OT13s4bVQ/s320/bdaypool.JPG)
A Cowboy/Pool party...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwV-G2g7C7mT3PTlgIC74yqhN2Iat_8EHLUt_A0B4oHD90eVMVGcQjV_CcMeKICJ1zW9xZvZP6FWmmvaxu_K6tODEPO1nIhdrRZuoDWFR85LH1452P8Gj99J614IE145XON91ww/s320/bdaypool1.JPG)
We spent the afternoon at the pool - of course that was a lot of fun - his friends live out in the country and this was their first visit to the public pool this year...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLlCGFurGJnqKRdzK2pWCuipop1IEapB7QkokSxpp0_Cq0zqjMAMmt4UKXWCHM7-bEwBhKr0j16T_2o8apXgonrRRYwOKwBGAiyS1dI0Eb6j-ve9S5aXj1RFfSShRIFWCrZ3MCg/s320/bdaypool2.JPG)
Notice one of the boys had his arm in a cast - it was too bad for him and after he had pouted on the pool deck for about an hour - I suggested that he at least get in the shallow end and throw the diving rings for the other boys - he did and seemed a lot happier - and cooler...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeguOaUFs_ncODKNizB829rOTeJwgTDJK2s7kMlUo52PuEHYoGvFLlNRcs6K3IYU9hl95HHBwNi-y_4Z3bpNKI2k1yZlgEpAad8BuBfW7iN7Z1NKYTZPgprYCAOyMyPeexlNipw/s320/bdaypark.JPG)
After swimming we played at the park - dried off and warmed up...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Xjj6qcGQFjXi4UIHMmpZdUfaiZFJj5TQ29OXwm511xigQR73rJB5Mh4jtvfyZHwruzmV3JCUtzEnbJejOLJY-TA7Lbc2la9vI_TWSSNfr8KR-Mti73T4AECvtaDvCd6ltWC_Kg/s320/bdaypark1.JPG)
Here is some 'synchronized swinging' - they're trying to all touch their toes in the middle - I think 3 out of 4 was their best...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoUMc3ZfieGsrrlMHaTNHQgb3NUBd3HoGoaarSWwBubSiDa88oGCETWMSWZlpC1LsCU1-_tZbqINZxSLTdQceal21lqfNkpBUcr0BRIpklqFwt3-PsilKFr26cc6nW9Cz4u_rcg/s320/bdaycandles.JPG)
Then back home for cake - 10 candles...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6eOpSEqzBwTgxZc9z4K-zBZCEe76WNcW_Yo-Zc7KJxNEdSFPaNEbe_0WoPDWZ1h8Fx2qiuG9eYEU7V7vvQCT1FCXWyMGg7RuSWONS0BaTXw2t0YQIXDKm9bXMUnoqdGh_DxdNQ/s320/bdaypresents.JPG)
...and presents...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lEmnRcYw5bKkAExBChHTJsTcx3qEeTgiLje38b99dcUcldn_iaFhmntEXluWy8E7pnK0UGRHUnSOQSFaWVsqqDNiE461YHVSxzfrRTiBsHIIywdOEvE_6aI8ElXHSG5dBHpGpQ/s320/bdaycake.JPG)
The boys devoured the entire Boot cake - leaving the Man and me with the scraps from the cutout - oh well - they were just as tasty...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKCttGmXdXoGj6_35VfwbTpOzYeV6r7KFxeyDxSWJuWLGQHSdDmGUxZP_Ln0Q76kgwncTm5qmzvV7vHWA_g-BeNsTRDgT0TDuL6lAP6gI5O9AWKP2SHJxxpYlvjlkjpsZc5b4RQ/s320/bdaybb.JPG)
There was a BB gun contest in the yard - here you have to run and shoot the target...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_91D_TQHqXLZBBjU_myBdcJvrzhQNKJmmova9ksla2tQJYqiHMnQJlgQ7udCD00c2O3JdXZP_6e_r0VDV2h03Uz-7hDMC1KBjbLxdHT34N1SCCEQeFH0JCyQVuPfpWXKQYpvYw/s320/bdayfield.JPG)
Then a search in the tall grass for the 'Have a Heart' trap they had set out earlier - we need to get a flag for that thing...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVYOP4gQW1c8cNc83hmBOQB4tfBHtrhsd1PWOtsOWoy6fkwWvnRHkH0gpDshR2AmPJCUZV5m5a41Om3v7PNztnrW7Ze9N8XtBTgm8q-0pA3i6P3sZi7Mz-8qMaVACADySB4RKDQ/s320/bdayfavors.JPG)
After dark - back inside - the Man-Cub gives out the favors...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPRmQAVZ7YNO7voMUU2am01dzEQJT9Pj4occTufz6skweA4rP-Dsx0JD_wiaumFVPN04awaVnEYBzpLJptFXsHoNWmx4pvF0JmY1KrVzHpucHBzezBBpJVd3GhU-Ob38g_XvjRw/s320/bdayfavors1.JPG)
and everyone enjoys their goodies - all hand picked to match the boy by the Man-Cub...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0t6TS6yLdUvL0XYYhDDewRIbkskyGBRkTZYJu9bRqv1JcG3TItWaSk0SvUl1lxaeKQTjHUvI4Wcwd_E3fDYbaDqmmLW_SewEDO78d5zavobQcAAdgkOcAjG6_HGtcJYFSUiIkzQ/s320/bdaybreakfast.JPG)
After a little bit of sleep on cots and sleeping bags - it was time for breakfast
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrJ1UqsysN4SD-dxN8ea574L1RL-rp_cdajUetKE4Fflf_Z9kqF9alfM9bz_VJ0vhULaoAm-uw-ji7x61HJu9OdIQRhPEUJm3Zk9WSmWORUD2ARyT54RnsUsCDKMDNEpsIJB81w/s320/bdaybreakfast1.JPG)
I made some really yummy vegan pancakes and was amazed at how many they ate...