Surfside Birthday

I find it very entertaining, as a DINK, to be invited to a child's birthday party. You've got cute kids everywhere, parents alternating between socializing and corralling their offspring, plenty of finger food and ice cream, and, as an outside looking in, only a limited amount of responsibility.

Last weekend, I was invited to such a party as both a guest and a casual photographer to celebrate JW's third birthday.

This scenario suited me just fine for the following reasons:

1) JP, L, and little J are some of my dearest friends in Cayman.

2) I think parents are smart to invite a photographer-friend to their parties so they can actually enjoy interacting with guests rather than succumbing to the pressure of documenting every precious moment.

3) The party was held at Surfside - one of Grand Cayman's best beach bar/restaurants along Seven Mile Beach when entertaining a crowd.

As seen in the background above, Surfside has a bunch of beach loungers for guests, and these chairs sit right outside of Surfside's west-facing sea-view restaurant located just north of SMB Public Beach.

Our birthday party spot was off to the side and out of the fray, but still only a short swim from the floating bar.

The birthday girl enjoyed a ride from mom out to the water cabana.

Of course some of the best shots of the day were of the kids enjoying the beach. I couldn't get enough of this kid with his shark floaty.

I want a shark floaty! 

I could settle for bright pink arm bubbles that match my swim bottoms, though.

Or I could take pink goggles for a spin...

...or top it all off with a pink coverup. 

From behind the lens, I caught party guests re-landscaping the beach...

 ...chatting with friends...

...chatting with themselves...

...and giggling with mom. 

Surfside truly is a beach for all ages, with everything from food and drink, to beach loungers and umbrellas, to a beachside bar, to water sports equipment like wave runners and paddle boards. You can even try the jetpack from Surfside!

Stole a shot from our Christmas wakeboarding experience to highlight one of Surfside's attraction.

Back to the party: JW's parents brought ice cream for all the guests and stuck three sparklers in the birthday girl's ice cream cone for her candle-blowing moment.

I love this little one's smile!

Making a wish!

Everyone enjoys an ice cream cone on a hot August day. We train them early here in Cayman.

Happy birthday, JW! Your infectious smile lights up this island!