Originality is SO overrated…

Graeme turned four last month, and when it came down to it, he wanted a “knight party” not unlike (okay, almost exactly like) his brother’s medieval times birthday party of late 2011.

Except there had to be more red. Because Graeme loves red.

And the ferocious, lance-wielding boy:

All he could talk about all day was cake, but then he barely ate any of it. But he blew out the candles even before we could finish singing ‘Happy Birthday.’

We shared the day with just one other family (albeit one that includes five children) and had certified humane hotdogs, local potato chips, New-England style baked beans and homemade lemonade.

And, of course, cake. It was so simple, really. Not fancy. Not Pinterest-worthy.

But it was so rich in the things that really matter:

so much playing

so much laughter

so much joy.