we survived another birthday month

Somehow Emily got to celebrate her birthday 3 times this month. There was her actual birthday when we went out for ice cream

There was the family evening where she got most of her presents and a lemon-raspberry cake (which she totally asked for, btw)

And of course, the big Batman-Tinkerbell Extravaganza. Having two young kids with birthdays that are less than 2 weeks apart presents a unique challenge ~ how to celebrate each itty bitty without overdosing on cake and overwhelming family and friends with too many parties too close together. I figured that while the bigger itty bitties were still young that we could get away with having one big family party, which worked brilliantly last year. Now that Kyle has been in preschool for a year I decided he could invite some of his friends this year. When I started planning the party I asked Kyle who he would like to invite and he named a handful of boys from his class. When I asked if he was going to invite a couple of the girls that he has mentioned in the past he emphatically declared "no, Mama, NO wittle girls allowed!" In the end he did gracefully concede to allowing some girls like Emily, Brina, and his friend Addison to come. We ended up inviting 7 of his classmates (all boys). We reserved a park shelter close to a playground that would be fun for the toddlers and the bigger kids, since this seemed the easiest way to entertain a herd of 4 and 5 year old tornadoes. Luck was not to be on my side, however, and the weather went from unseasonably warm and sunny to cold and rainy the day of the party.

The weather was not the only party related disaster, oh no. The previous two years have produced cakes and cupcakes that were a "bit" on the dry side. And this year? What happens when I go into panic mode and attempt to make cupcakes without cupcake pans (because I forgot to borrow them from my MIL)? Cupcake blobs.

We all know how brutally mean honest kids can be, and since I didn't feel like being reduced to tears by a bunch of 2-5 year olds, I put out an SOS to Nana and Grannie. Luckily Nana rushed over with her pans and stayed to help me re-make the batch, and we ended up with more kid-friendly cakes.

When I woke up this morning and realized that instead of the perfect party where all the kids could eat as much cake and ice cream as they wanted and run off their sugar highs in a wide open park was instead going to turn into a OMG-what-am-I-going-to-do-with-all-of-these-kids-in-my-house party, I admit that I had a few moments of panic. 

In the end the day was full of fun and laughter, no major injuries to report, and Travis even overhead one of Ky's buddies proclaim that "this was the best party ever!" I can speculate that this sentiment was brought out by any combination of the following scenarios that occurred in my basement today:

1. the fact that Travis lets Kyle play all manner of sports in the house
2. the game dodge ball using my exercise ball that is bigger than most of them
3. the wrestling match that broke out downstairs
4. the discovery of the dart board 
5. Lord only knows what else

In addition to the general chaos that naturally follows a group of 4 and 5 year old boys, we had a feminine touch to festivities as well in the form of a houseful of fairy princesses

Happy birthday my littles, today you were surrounded by family and friends that love you almost as much as I do!

P.S. evidence why I won't be doing another Kyle-Emily party combo.

Doesn't look to bad, you say? Well this is only the upstairs. I was spared the after math in the basement by my amazing MIL who cleaned up while I tried to get an overstimulated Grayson to sleep!

He's Four!?!?!

Dearest Kyle

At least once a week you and I have a discussion about how big you are getting. It usually consists of me holding you in a bear hug and begging you to stay little. Usually you laugh and says "No, mama, I want to be big, big, big, big!" On occasion you will agree to never get too big to snuggle with me. But every once in a while maybe you share in my melancholy at how you used to fit so nicely in my lap and how you could snuggle up into a little ball in my arms because you'll say, "ok, mama, I will stay wittle".

While so many things have changed since we spent our days like this, thankfully somethings have stayed the same.  You still love smoochers and giving me a huge squish and a squeeze, cuddling and doing what your daddy and I do.

 You are my best helper, and will readily jump in to help out with the dishes or sweeping. Emily is not fond of picking up her toys, and many times you will run around cleaning up after your little sister.

You are a fabulous big brother and have accepted Grayson into your life

just as easily as you did Emily.

I love how you were so willing to share all of your favorite "tings" with Emily when she was a baby,

and now with Grayson

Your amazing balance and coordination combined with your sense of fearlessness have kept me on my toes at times, and your sense of adventure will surely bring me some moments of fear. For now you are content to climb whatever you can whenever you can.

Within 5 minutes of first learning how to use the motorized 4 wheeler we got for your birthday, you were already switching it into high gear and trying something new; standing up

Without question I know that the trepidation I felt when your dad enabled the faster speed on the 4 wheeler is nothing compared to what I will feel in the future when you discover things like hockey or football, dirt bikes or motorcycles, and Heaven help me when you are ready to start driving a real car, or when you begin dating.....

The past year has brought many  new and exciting changes to your life as well.You started preschool this year, and while I know this might change in the future, you have adored your time at school. You have learned how to write your name,

made new friends, and explored musical theater and had a starring role as a camel in the Christmas program.

Thomas the Train has been replaced by Batman as your new favorite obsession

All traces of the chubby cheeked toddler have disappeared

leaving a handsome young man with a quick and easy smile and a contagious laugh.

Happy 4th Birthday Kyle James. You have given the last 4 years more meaning than I could have ever imagined and more memories than I can count. You will always be my baby boy.

I love you the best plus one!