We celebrated Emerson’s 8th birthday with a backyard party full of laughter, friends, and neighborhood fun. His theme was a blend of Emerson himself, Steve from Minecraft, and Max—his beloved stuffed black lab.
Winnie added her special touch by decorating the birthday cake, and we had a classic summer cookout with watermelon, and potato salad. The kids loved the Minecraft Pez dispensers we handed out as party favors, but the biggest hit by far was the inflatable water slide. Dubbed the “cold tub” in contrast to the hot tub, the kids had a blast hopping back and forth between the two.
When it came time for presents, Emerson asked me to read each birthday card aloud. I felt so proud watching him listen carefully to all the kind and thoughtful messages from his friends. For most of the day, Emerson thought the waterslide was just a rental—our original plan—but at the end of the party, we let him in on the surprise: the slide was his to keep. His face lit up with delight, and he later told Seth it was “the best birthday ever.”