As promised, here’s some video from yesterday’s celebration:
Thanks to everyone who donated trolls and made this troll bonanza possible!
Party
“Diane and Syd Marcus are awesome” Party
Diane and Syd Marcus sent us some fabulous goodies for Jody’s Birthday Party, but unfortunately we didn’t get them until after the big day. As a compromise, today we held a “Diane and Syd are awesome” Party. Let me explain:
Diane and Syd frequently send the chimps goodies and each time there is one hand-picked and individually wrapped thing for each chimp, along with a note to whom it belongs to. Among the gifts this time– a stuffed animal for Jody, a popper toy for Burrito, a silky scarf for Annie, a toolbox for Jamie, socks and a beaded necklace for Missy, a troll doll for Foxie, and both Foxie and Negra got something extra special– several months ago, Diane and Syd sent a monogrammed Winnie the Pooh blanket for Negra. It was adorable and Negra actually seems to like it! This time, Diane and Syd had a king sized blanket monogrammed for her! They also sent a small monogrammed blanket for Foxie. Here’s their note to Foxie:
Darling Foxie,
We were overjoyed to see you reaching for blankets. You are not only a troll collectrice extraordinaire, but also a nest maker par excellence. And a beautiful peacekeeper. What a girl!!
We chose this blanket because it is a girlie girl blanket- which is what you are. Red and pink are your colors. Snuggle with it when you wish– you can do a few lovely flips.
Of course, we have also enclosed something else. No present to you would be complete without one.
You are a very special and lovely girl.
We are so fortunate to have such lovely supporters like Diane and Syd Marcus who light up the chimps’ day. The party was excellent, as always!
First, a video:
Negra was super happy about the rice cakes Diane and Syd sent:
They also sent some blueberry tea, which was a big hit. Here’s Missy enjoying a glass:
Jody checking out the beaded necklaces:
Jamie and her tools:
A super relaxed, post-party Burrito:
Thanks so much to Diane and Syd for the lovely gifts, and for all of you who send such wonderful enrichment for the chimps!
Cinco de Mayo Party
The ladies at the Tacoma chapter of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs sure know how to help us put on a party! As mentioned in the post earlier today, they sponsored today and sent us enrichment for a Cinco de Mayo party. And a party we had!
Along with some beach/summer-themed enrichment, the ladies sent us a Safeway gift card so that we could get some yummy produce for the party. So, on the Mexicali menu was tortillas, avocados, tomatoes, cabbage, and leeks (a chimp favorite!). In addition, we juiced some limes and added Key Lime Sparkling Water for our own version of virgin margaritas, poured into tiny plastic shot glasses, of course.
The margaritas smelled just like the real thing! In my opinion, they tasted WAY too tart, but the chimps loved them!! Here’s Jamie going for as many “shots” as possible:
And Annie, relaxing with the last drop of hers:
The tortillas were a big hit, too. I unfortunately didn’t get any photos of her, but bread-loving Negra was SO excited!
Jody:
Missy:
The ladies sent lots of festive beach bags and towels. We added a few beach appropriate things to the bags to fit the theme, such as magazines, combs (for when your hair gets messy after swimming), mirrors, hair clips, plastic shovels for the kids, an extra pair of sandals, etc…
Here’s Missy checking one out:
And how could this possibly be a real party if Foxie didn’t get some new trolls:
Thanks so much, ladies!! We’ve had a great day– and it’s not over! On tonight’s menu is beans and rice with corn on the cob! YUM!
A Royal Party
I promised generous friends and family who gave through my Facebook birthday wish that I would throw a party for the chimpanzees today on my birthday. Thanks to Derek, Stephanie M., Jessica, Anika, Jen, David, Audrey, Linda, Donna, Laura, Stephanie P., Susan & Jack, Ryan, Gay & Mike, Kathy, Anna, Suzanne, Margaret & Karen and big thanks to Bruce and Deborah for helping me surpass my birthday wish goal!
We thought it would be fun to make the party a British high tea since William and Kate’s wedding was just yesterday.
We made some fancy food, put out some crazy hats, and let the chimps enjoy.
In case you’re wondering about the cake, I modified this recipe for raw birthday cake. I believe the video shows that the chimps approved. Burrito and Missy also enjoyed the cake, but they were off camera when I filmed. Debbie was serving at the barn doors to entice the chimps into the playroom so I could close off the greenhouse and volunteer Erin and I could set up the rest of the party.
The sandwiches were Erin’s creation: lettuce and English cucumbers with a layer of mashed bananas between slices of apple.
Happy High Tea, everyone!
After the party, Burrito kicked back with a macadamia nut
Happy Halloween!
From new boots to pomegranates; from pears, apples, and green onions, to grapes, oranges, and pineapple coconut juice; from pinatas to new troll dolls; yesterday may have been the most exciting party at CSNW to date. The food squeaks lasted for at least 30 minutes! It was quite a day!
In addition to the video, I thought I would post a couple of my personal favorite pictures from the party– but FYI, they aren’t the ones saved for $33 donations in honor of Jamie’s day! Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!
A spooky Mr. Burrito:
HALLOWEEN
The Halloween / Jamie’s birthday celebration today is perhaps the biggest party we’ve had to date, and the chimpanzees were food grunting and squeaking like they’d happened upon the most exciting food they had ever seen.
Here are a few photos of the festivities:
Jamie looking through a Halloween gift bag. Thanks for all the great new toys, Robbi and Dick!
Jamie (and really everyone) enjoyed the juice in Halloween cups with Halloween straws. Thanks, Stephanie!
Jody decided to spend her time bobbing for apples in the pool we filled with water:
Burrito went around to all of the food buckets and picked out the pomegranates, squeaking the entire time. Thanks for the donation to buy produce for the party, Tamela!
Jamie opened up all of the pinatas, including this boot pinata (thanks, Felicity!), but she left some nuts behind. Here’s Negra getting what was left behind:
Foxie kept going back to this bag and peering inside, but she left it for someone else to open. Jamie finally did and Foxie got the troll doll that was in the bag:
Missy’s Birthday
Today we celebrated Missy’s 35th Birthday. What a great day! We set the party up first thing this morning and scattered tons of gift bags of goodies from Dick and Robbi, and set up a forage of oranges, peaches, carrots, frozen cantaloupe, and “night bags” (or “breakfast bags”, if you will) of sunflower seeds, which were hidden inside the gift bags. The chimps loved the party and were in excellent moods for the duration of the day!
If you are friends with Missy or any of the Cle Elum Seven chimps on Facebook, you might have seen posts this morning about another birthday fundraiser. It’s not too late to participate- send us a $35 donation and I’ll email a special gift to you and a friend (be sure to put your friend’s email in the gift note section of the donation form). She’s celebrating with her friends, why don’t you celebrate with a friend as well?!
Missy:
Negra enjoying her “breakfast bag”:
Burrito and Foxie enjoying some frozen cantaloupe:
Jamie, in true spirit of a party:
Missy eating a carrot:
Here’s a peek at the party:
