Benny turns 6

JB likes to sing "Benjamino, Benjamino, Benjamino Benjamo!" to Ben. It's to the tune of the Bohemian Rhapsody, you know, the Galileo part? Anyhoo, our sweet, energetic, passionate, determined Bejmanino turned 6 last Friday.

He got a crown in school:

And Max was right there to help him open his new remote controlled car we gave him. 

Then on Saturday, we held a party. Benny's first friends party. Most likely his last.  We invited his primary class and a few from his kindergarten class and some neighbors, friends, and cousins. Every single child came. I think we had 20 kids in our little living room.

All the better to see my brother Joe show off some snakes and reptiles! This was awesome. Joe is so knowledgeable, and he has some cool-looking critters. The kids' eyes were huge.

This baby had big eyes, too. And a lot of drool on his shirt.

The kids watched Joe with rapt attention, because....wait for it....

He brought out this big guy!  It's HUGE! 12 feet long, and wrapped all around Joe.

I tried to make these cupcakes look like a snake coiled around.

Notice Max's face while Benny opens the presents. We have more video and pictures like this gem.

Every child got a chance to take a picture with the snake if they wanted to. I have been sending the pictures to their parents.  Here are three of my boys.

Notice how Andrew is hugging tight to Joe? He was more scared of the tortoise on the floor on the right, by Joe's knee. It meandered around the room during the party (one kid was about to ride it or drive it like a car before we stopped him). Andrew was scared it was going to come get him like a dog.

It was a wild and crazy afternoon that's for sure. I'm hearing from other moms that their kids loved it. Not everyone got close to the biggest snake, but almost all of them touched the smaller ball pythons and lizards and stuff. Big thanks to my brother! And a big happy birthday to our wild and crazy Benny.