Ra Whanau Ki A Koe

We have had wave after wave of birthdays rolling in on the calendar! Since the start of the semester, we have already celebrated 5 brilliant birthdays. Here's a recap of the shenanigans that have ensued.

First up, our beloved Program Director Courtnay! We celebrated her birthday with an evening of world trivia. Students and staff were divided into four teams, representing 4 countries that Courtnay has lived and worked in: Canada, Japan, Belize, and New Zealand. CCSP alum Scott and Robin joined in too. Teams got very creative in dressing according to their country of origin!

Top Left: Team Japan, including sumo wrestlers, bonsai, sushi, and a Japanese tourist.
Top Right: Team Canada! Lumberjacks, mounties, hockey players, and bears! Oh my!
Bottom Left: Team New Zealand, complete with a birder, rugby player, sheep farmer, Legolas, and sheep.
Bottom Right: Team Belize contestants dressed as an orange, jaguar, tourist, and toucan, proudly displaying their flag.

The following day, we celebrated Kris's 21st birthday. Kris (Messiah) loves The Princess Bride, so we planned a party accordingly. After ice cream pie, 21 shots of milk (Kris LOVES milk), and a short game, we watched The Princess Bride...audience involvement style! Everyone got a list of things to do when prompted by the movie, like yelling, "Aaaaaaas youuuuu wiiiiiiish!" whenever Westley says it, booing Prince Humperdinck as he enters a scene, and throwing paper "boulders" at one another when Fezzik throws them at Westley.

Kris conquers her 21 shots of milk

Next up, Toni! Toni (Westmont) absolutely adores the color pink. We threw her a dance party, where everyone had to dress in as much pink as possible. We started off with a game of limbo and then danced the night away with DJ Scott. Caleb even taught us all to Dougie.

Toni and her 3 delicious cheesecakes

We all donned our cloaks, wizard hats, wings, other wear in celebration of Melissa's Lord of the Rings themed birthday. Melissa (Westmont) is a big Lord of the Rings fan. Split into two teams, students and staff competed for the glory of victory...and ginger beer! Teams versed one other in battles of wit and athleticism. The first challenge was a series of riddles from The Hobbit. Sam (Eastern), with her extensive Lord of the Rings knowledge, posed some tough competition for Melissa's team. Allie (staff) put up a good fight, and it ended up being pretty close! Melissa's team was victorious overall, winning the next two challenges. The second challenge was archery. Each team member had one shot to land their arrow in one of three rings of varying points. Last, teams had to embark on a quest to find and destroy the Ring of Power. They were given Lord of the Rings themed clues to go from station to station, find the "ring," and burn it in the flames of Mount Doom (a fire in the yard). Following the games were a pretty sweet as photo shoot, some hobbit dancing, and making a Middle Earth themed commercial for Bundaberg.

Top Left: Hobbitses Sarah (Biola), Matt (Messiah), and Kristen (Staff)
Bottom Left: Shelob (Kris, Messiah) attacks Frodo (Matt, Messiah)!
Right: Our birthday girl, dressed as her favorite character Legolas

A good-looking bunch if I ever saw one! 

Members of the Fellowship traveled far and wide especially for Melissa's birthday!
Jacob (Messiah), Melissa (Westmont), Matt (Messiah), and Tyler (Messiah)

Jacob's birthday was next (Messiah). We had carrot cake and played "pin the skis on the Jacob" before he and the other men headed off for a weekend hiking trip; All favorites of this Vermonter!

Jacob (Messiah) poses with "himself" after our game of "pin the skis on the Jacob." Jacob's hand-decorated birthday cakes, made by Caleb.

All of the men at Kevin Topps' hut during their hiking trip

Interested in learning how to sing "Happy Birthday to You" in Maori? Listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3p9vhe_Xbo