Avast ye scallywags! It's a pirate birthday!

The forecast earlier in the week was for rain on Sunday.  It seems our token bloody sacrifice to Poseidon, Friday night, even though we're a land-locked province, proved fortuitous, and the day dawned sunny, if a bit cool.

This was the backyard calm before the storm.

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The cake, upon arrival.  Not able to find a store bought cake to her liking, Amy got her girlfriend to make one and then she supplied the pirate paraphernalia.  The wicked, unforgiving sea is blue icing, frosted in white, and the wee booty island (that you can't see, but upon which the tree is standing) is built up of crushed Cheerios.

AVAST!!

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Declan posing in the backyard with the treasure chest piñata over his left shoulder.  He may be grimacing here, but he always insists that he's going to be a nice pirate.  You know, 'cause he's from Canada, eh?

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Token artsy shot.

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It may look like the pinata is about to descend with frightful force upon the unprotected pate of my wee boy, but I assure you it's only a trick of perspective.  If that were really the case, the boy's grandfather (far right) would be laughing much harder.

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In contemplation of fresh booty.

(The candy and toy kind, not the kind I prefer.  This was a kids' party.)

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Yeah, I just ate a hot dog.  How can you tell?

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Granny and Grumpy helping Tavish eat his.

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Saving the ship in the nick of time!

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We made Dex read each card before tearing into the presents, though he wasn't happy about it.

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Tav accepted his own utter lack of presents with unexpected equanimity.

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Sorry, can't talk to you.  Busy on my Transformers blue tooth head-set.

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YAR!

Comments

[Mark]

What a seriously kick-ass pirate cake!! I'm sure Dex smiled a lot more than indicated here. You just didn't want to go for the typical birthday shots, right? That grimace could go either way, I suppose.

Cool party, Mom and Dad!

I'm getting even more excited now about meeting the Fraser paterfamilia. Thanks in no small part to that dashing final shot, I'm sure.

[Dave]

Great Cake!!! Kudo's to your wife for insisting on it!
Looks like the kids (and even you) had a great time!!!
Didja make anyone walk the plank?? *S*

[Amy]

Who is the person in the sunglasses??? I see Amber in the back round but can't figure out who is wearing the sunglasses in the reflective sunglass shot...

[Simon]

Mark,

That pirate cake was way better than any store-bought creation could have been. I think I ate too much. See you in a day and a half!

Dave,

Everybody had a great time. And you know what? We totally forgot to make anyone walk the plank! Dammit...

Aim,

Those were Hayden's glasses. She looked more like a Superstar than a pirate on Sunday.

[Moksha Gren]

I like that Grumpy got into the pirate spirit with his earrings. That's dedication to the theme, man.

The cake was truly cool. Dex and Norah would get along swimmingly. We went out to dinner with my brother and his fiance on Friday and Norah insisted on wearing her pirate hat and eye patch.

The picture of Dex post-hotdog is perhaps his most piratey pose. I don't think I'd want to get too close to his treasure chest of hotdogs for fear of ending up a hook-handed pirate myself.

[Satchel Pooch]

That is so adorable! Looks like a fine time was had by all aboard.

[Émilie B]

Amy made some smart finds with the accessories. Cool bandanna!

I don't usually add cards to kids' presents. Actually, I don't often add cards to any present. It's not just kids who like to get to the good stuff right away ;D

Happy Birthday Declan!

[marian]

Actually, I'm in love with the new banner. Kind of says it all, doesn't it?

[WebDrops]

I just loved the pirate ship cake... I mean it looks awesome... very beautifully made :) Poor Dex... I remember when I was a kid.. I was asked to do this at my birthday party... and how much I detested doing that ... and yes not to forget the pics...they look amazing too :)kudos photographer ;)