Jackson's birthday, version 6.2

Saturday morning, three of Jack's best friends from Oakhill joined us at Chuck E. Cheese for one last birthday hurrah.

Though it opens at 9 a.m., we got there at 10 'til 10 and were the only ones there! We got the first spot in the parking lot and had the whole place to ourselves.

Waiting for his friends to arrive — Jake, Jake and Jacob (I felt like we were on "Newhart").

JD and his dad playing Artic Thunder.

Then it was JD and Jack's turn.

I think this Bumbo Safari game was the only one that Jake played! He was really good at it and racked up lots of tickets. Even when he was out of tokens to put in, he got to play much longer from all the bonus points he had scored.

Jake pedaling high on the Superfly.

Mr. Chuck E. Cheese, himself.

JD in the cockpit. He really did have to wear the seatbelt, 'cause the hydraulics tipped him from side to side.

JD's dad said he didn't realize that he should've dyed JD's hair blond.

Chuck coming by to give high fours.

On the outside of the gift that Jake brought, there was a great color photo of the two of them that Jake's mom had taken last year.

Jack was very appreciative and grateful.

Part of JD's gift were these two homemade "books" he had made just for Jack. His dad said that earlier this summer, JD spent an entire day coloring, cutting and taping them together.

Then it was back to more toys and games.

They all played so well together.

Jake and Jake.

Since all four of them now go to four different schools, it was really neat to see them together after such a long time apart.

Havin' fun up in the tunnels...

...and down the slide.

Then it was time to wrap things up at Chuck E. Cheese and run over to...

Sheridan's!

Instead of a cake, Jack opted for his favorite frozen treat — concretes. Can you blame him?

After having just redeemed their Chuck E. Cheese tickets, it wasn't easy to get them to sit still and not play with their new toys. See some of their antics here. Ah, to be 6 again.

Shoot-out at the Dirt 'n' Worms Corral.

By then, Jake's younger sister Anna had joined us. Isn't she a doll?