NEW BRIGHTON, PENNSYLVANIA

Our grandson Cole turned seven this past weekend, so we hot-footed it out to New Brighton for the festivities. We got there Friday night and had a nice dinner and evening.

In the morning, I got the job of picking up the ice cream cake at Dairy Queen in Rochester. Of course, it was not ready, so I was forced to enjoy a (free) chocolate cone while I waited. I rushed the cake, which sported a Darth Vader picture but no birthday greeting, back home and into the freezer.

By then it was time to run to Beaver to pick up the pizzas that had been ordered. There was some sort of arts festival in the town square, so it was a slow go. Eventually, I got to the other side of town and stowed the pies away in the trunk of the Box for transport back to Party Central.

I found Cole surrounded by family and friends, there to wish him a happy seventh. The kids are always well behaved, and there was more pandemonium from the adults than from the children. Once the pizza was devoured, the ice cream cake appeared to the singing of "Happy Birthday." (Watch the actual video.) It seems that Cole's little friend Andy considers it his job to blow out any and all birthday candles, so he had to be carefully watched. While it is not shown, he does make a foiled attempt!

Soon the gift opening took place, with many nice gifts and a number of Target gift cards to be used to purchase Legos toys of the Star Wars type.

After Sarah distributed the party favors, the kids spent a short time of play in the front yard before heading home.

On Sunday, Sarah and Susanne did some grocery shopping, and then, exhausted by the rigors of party-going, Susanne and I headed home, enjoying a stop at Bob Evans in Breezewood for a meal.

Here are pictures of the week-end's goings-on:

We saw these delicious cherries at the

turnpike farmers market.

It was great to see that our new widescreen

television set was being shipped to us at home

via the turnpike.

Sarah had mowed the lawn and was using

the blower when we arrived.

We were greeted by the festive color that

Sarah had painted our old church pew.

Chloe was soon busy playing in the sand and water table.

Cole and I played Parcheesi while Phoebe looked on.

I tried to block Cole from advancing,

but he won the game anyway.

Chloe took her turn at whooping Papi.

Then she did her Marilyn Monroe impersonation

over the air conditioning vent.

The birthday cake had taken shape

at the Rochester Dairy Queen.

The girls have their own table.

And so do the boys.

Afterwards, the adults take a breather

on the new old pew.

The kids sit for the official birthday portrait.

Summing up the day's fun, Cole goes mad for

his $2 bill from Guy and Lindsay.