Toucans, Tarpons, and Temples: Lochlan's Birthday

We celebrated Lochlan's eight birthday weekend before last with a party at Caribbean Villas. The day started with cards from Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa Kaplan, and Grandma and Grandpa Stevenson.

Lochlan opening cards while his Bro and buddy Kerry look on (Kerry was at our place for a sleepover the night before)

We asked him what type of party he wanted and his immediate response was "pool party!" Amy talked to Cindy at Caribbean Villas and made arrangements for us to host the party there. She also lined up the Toucan Jumper, a portable bungee jumping contraption the boys had used once before during a party at Caribbean Villas.

Unfortunately there were some broken parts on the Toucan Jumper that could not be replaced or repaired in time so they had to cancel at the last minute. This actually turned out to be OK because the kids had just as much fun (if not more) swimming in the pool, playing on the beach, making scrounge art, playing "pin the tail on the spotted eagle ray" and coconut bowling. We had lots of snacks and a delicious cake from Annie's. The party went very well thank to Amy's hard work making all of the preparations. The weather also cooperated fabulously--this was the first sunny day we'd had all week!

The pool was a big hit

Lochlan and I carved a shark out of a watermelon!

And Amy made palm trees from oranges, bananas, and kiwis

Even the bar wished Lochlan a happy birthday (that is Paul the sailboat guy in the background)

The tailless eagle ray (drawn by Liam with a little help from Dad)

The kiddos waiting for their turn to pin the tail on

Nathan lines one up

Aiden puts his tail on the board

Coconut bowling! (the pins are old coke bottles filled with sand)

Birthday Boy with his family

My favorite part about the whole party is that Lochlan decided, completely on his own, to not ask for presents but rather to ask for donations to three different charities--Saga (the local humane society), Belize Red Cross, and Liberty Children's Home (a big orphanage in Belize City). He raised just over $80 for each of the charities and delivered the money in person later the following week. He even made it into the paper! There was a bit of a mixup and they put down his brother's name, but that is definitely Lochlan.We are so proud of our birthday boy.