Dom's sticky mustache adorns Mr. Happy

Dom was the kind of kid who started planning his next birthday party before all the balloons had even popped or the streamers were off the walls. He had great parties...and was so proud when people told him that his were the BEST. He put so much thought into each activity.  Despite my prodding, he never wanted to have the kind of party where you could go somewhere, do an activity, leave the mess behind, and call it a day. We had so much fun, but I have to admit that I told him that next year (so, 2008) we might need to take a simpler route and skip the big event. If you know me, you realize that I would have probably given in and let him plan another adventure of a birthday party. It's such a bummer that #10 was the last.

Anyway, Dom would love it if I shared some of his great party highlights. I'll start with the big 10th birthday, and work backward. Happy birthday, dude.

 (Dom is actually buried in this Mr. Happy shirt under his favorite henley. It seemed appropriate.)

of course we used trick candles...keep blowing

 2007 - 10th Birthday

Dominic's 10th birthday was an "Around the World" theme, complete with games set in different "countries". Japan: Dom created a game with relays passing sticky/slimy balls in relay fashion using chopsticks. The kids received fortune cookies with funny messages that Dom came up with inside. Australia: Hard to explain, but we added "pouches" onto hippity-hops, to simulate kangaroos, and then raced with water balloons in the pouches.It was a crazy-hot day and the water balloons were exploding everywhere. Mexico: Yep, a pinata with a sombrero and mustaches. We did fill the entire basement with zillions of blue and green balloons, too, although I don't recall why. :)  And there was more, but it's a blur. Hmmm.

When it was all said and done, Dom had become rather attached to the balloons, and hoped that he could keep them all. A bunch of them were still inflated, retired to his bedroom closet, even after he passed away. So silly.

Reading clues in the race to the treasure

2006 - 9th Birthday

Dominic's 9th birthday was quite a production! He chose a movie theme, and coordinated games to different movies. I think the activities kicked off with an "Over the Hedge" presentation by Katie Cathcart, the Puppet-Lady. Katie brought over her real hedgehog, and then taught the kids to make little puppets of the animals from the movie. Then there was a "Pirates of the Caribbean" themed treasure hunt, with clues leading the kids all around the neighborhood. 

The cake was a part of the "Finding Nemo" element, and in the basement, a "Spongebob Movie" themed party kicked off. I recall that we also had a "giant" volleyball game that tied back to the "Over the Hedge" movie since we covered a volleyball net with green grass skirts to resemble a hedge (which the ball then went over...get it?) 

2005 - 8th Birthday

2005 was a crazy-busy year with weddings in California for both Carolyn & Melanie. So I asked Dom and Audrey to plan their parties (both in August) to be held at the Huntington Pool. We went with a Spongebob theme...sponge tossing games, water balloons, bubble gum blowing, Spongebob pinata, and frozen toy retrieval. 

It was a beautiful day, and a fun party. Dom was totally happy, but he still preferred parties at our house. Oh well. 

Dom's in the back row, left

2004 - 7th Birthday

This is the only picture of Dom's 7th birthday party since running this party required intensive parent participation, and Chris and I were running around like crazy. The Harry Potter theme was super over the top! All three Zahlis kids worked so hard creating areas: Platform 9 3/4, Diagon Alley, Quidditch fields, and the Dining Hall. The highlight was probably when we sorted the kids into teams...we hooked up a microphone into the wreath over the fireplace so that Chris could impersonate the sorting hat with his voice emanating from what seemed like the old hat while Chris hid upstairs. Some of the kids were even a bit frightened by that! 

The kids wore Harry Potter glasses while riding on Nimbus 2000's. Through a variety of games they collected sickles, knuts, and galleons, and at the end of the party they shopped with their wizard money at our own Diagon Alley.

 2003 - 6th Birthday

This was a pretty traditional birthday party...bounce-house, pinata, games, and some time splashing around in a cooled off hot-tub. The Scooby-Doo theme prevailed at this one. Chris recalls nearly decapitating Greer with a large limb of the tree during the pinata time but the details are vague now. (Greer probably remembers though!)  

 I wish I could remember more, but as Chris pointed out, I probably have a party itinerary stashed somewhere. I'll stumble across it one day soon, and fill in more details then.

 2002 - 5th Birthday

Always a fan of stuffed animals, Dom held his 5th birthday at Build-a-Bear with a dozen friends. They made their bears and then had a little party with pizza and cake in a nice food-court area.  

 Since Dom had a summer birthday, we actually spent most of his "REAL" birthdays in California, either in Anaheim or Clovis. This allowed for multiple cakes, performances of the happy birthday song, and opportunities to open presents.

 2001 - 4th Birthday

During Dom's preschool years, he took gymnastic classes at a little gym near our house. It made for a perfect party situation...he was familiar with the place and could invite a bunch of buddies to come jump, climb, swing and eat cake. Dom was into Dragon Tales back then (obviously). He received a big "Ord" dragon that year that could say a few different sentences. Chris still imitates that dragon saying, "My dragon badge...it's shining."

The kids launched from a rope swing into a giant foam pit. Now that's fun! Dom looks so little, but Brady looks like a baby in this picture. Brady was at every party Dom ever had from the time they were four; but then he was away during Dom's 10th birthday party. So Brady's parents took the boys to "Dave & Busters" for a do-over birthday party for Dominic. That was pretty special too.

 2000 - 3rd Birthday

Dominic's three closest friends, Nate, Brady, and Rachel, were all out of town on Dom's birthday weekend, so the Zahlis' hit the road for Hershey Park. Yes, you folks in California probably think Disneyland is superior, but there's something magical about hugging a giant chocolate bar too. Dom opened his presents in the hotel room, including the roller skates he wore to breakfast.

Dom grew to claim that he didn't like heights. You can only wonder why when you see the death-grip I have on his hand in this picture taken on a ferris wheel. (He SAID he didn't like heights, but I have pictures of him on the roof of our house helping with Christmas lights. It was a selective phobia apparently.)

We returned home for a Gray Mouse block party where we celebrated Dom's birthday a little longer. At the time, Dom wanted to be a farmer when he grew up...hence the farm cake. We all were amused.

 1999 - 2nd Birthday

Obviously Dominic had no input regarding his 2nd birthday. Therefore, it was a low-key day, with cake and presents at Pop & Gramcracker's house. It was a "trains and trucks" kind of birthday for our little dude.

Dom had spent a bunch of time in California that summer, and  stayed with his grandparents while Chris & I visited Japan. 

Dom's first birthday candle...yum

 1998 - 1st Birthday

We celebrated Dom's first birthday in a normal fashion: frightening him with a lit candle, feeding him sugary cake, and having friends and family over to watch him toddle about. 

Katie sharing with Dom

Around the time Dom turned one, we found out that we'd be relocating (temporarily) to Maryland. Our friends and family were bummed that we were taking our little people all the way across the country. We packed up and moved in October. Dom always considered himself a Marylander since he was just a baby when we left California.