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Royal’s birthday was the most impressive party we’ve thrown yet. It was hosted at the Chandler-Newberger Center. They gave us a room with tables and half the gym. The gym was pre-configured with two courses and an instructor showed the kids how to stretch and then how run the course.

For the most part the kids didn’t bother to follow a certain path but went to the places that most interested them for the next half-minute. Both Graham and Royal periodically disappeared to get a snack in the other room. After the first hour we moved to the snack room, gorged ourselves on bananas and worms-in-dirt, and watched Royal open gifts. He’d already opened his birthday gifts on his actual birthday - these were just the ones brought by guests and Uncle Mark, Aunt Steph and Viktoria.

There were six children and three times that many adults.

A whiteboard reads, 'Happy Birthday Royal!' with blow-up monkeys and bananas around it.
Royal's birthday had a monkey theme. Betcha can't guess why :)
Royal hanging from a pull-up bar.
Royal's never done a gymnastics class before, but he's a natural.
Jotham, Graham and Carter running along a blow-up jumping pad.
Every kid had a great time, but none more than Graham and Carter.
Royal, Graham, Nikki, Charlotte, and Jotham seated at the birthday table.
It's a miracle; every child sitting at the same table, at the same time!
Alex reading a birthday card to Royal.
If you got Royal a card, it was read to him. I can't guarantee he noticed.
Alex, Royal, Kati and Graham at the birthday table. Royal's face is covered up.
Where's Royal?
Everyone around the multi-colored parachute.
There were balls on the parachute just a second ago...
Nikki and Jotham with Rebecca before an obstacle course.
Can I make it over that last one? I think so.