Ethan's birthday extravaganza

Happy birthday to our four year old!  We had a full weekend of celebrating E's birthday and had so much fun!  I really love birthdays - the planning, the friends, the food, the activities, everything.  This was the first year he really got into his birthday and understood what it meant which made it that much more fun.  On the way home from church this morning Clay asked me if something was wrong because I was so quiet.  There certainly wasn't anything wrong, but I didn't really know how to feel this morning.  I'm so excited that he's a year older and able to do more things and enjoy more things, but I guess I'm a little sad that his little boy years are over.  He's a big kid now.  He's getting a little awkward to hold because he's so long.  He doesn't really fit all curled up in my arms anymore.  He can brush his own teeth and doesn't need help using the bathroom (I have no idea why I would be sad about these things, but you get the point).  He really is an amazing kid and I just feel blessed to call him mine. Warning - unless you are related, you might be bored by this next paragraph...just don't want to forget what he's like at 4 ---

• He's funny and smart and stubborn and analytical and artistic. 


• He still hates having his hair fixed and will probably forever hate wearing pants. 


• He prefers flip flops to socks and shoes any day of the week. 


• He wants to figure things out for himself...always. 


• He climbs on everything and jumps off of everything. 


• He loves the park and riding his bike. 


• He wants to go camping every weekend. 


• He wakes up between 6:30 and 6:45 every morning. 


• He would much rather have a glass of soy milk in the morning for a jumpstart and then wait a couple of hours before having breakfast. 


• He thinks tooting is hilarious. 


• His favorite restaurant is Luby's and his favorite place to go is Target. 


• He would rather be at home than anywhere else. 


• Most of his friends are girls. 


• He's certainly not the most talented student in his gymnastics class, but I think he has the most fun. 


• He desperately wants Rachel to follow him around all day doing exactly what he says. 


• This week he's sleeping with a big dog, a white tiger and a blue blanket...it changes from week to week. 


• He doesn't take naps anymore and goes to bed between 7:30 and 8:00. 


• He likes to have the day's schedule laid out for him first thing in the morning...or the night before would be even better. 


• His hair is so coarse and fluffy that I can't bring myself to let it grow out. 


• He wears a 4T top and 3T bottom and size 9 shoes. 


• He knows all of his letters and their sounds, but isn't reading. 


• He loves scaring people. 


• His daddy is his hero and he asks me all day long when daddy will be done with work. 


• His favorite quiet time activity is playing games on the Playhouse Disney site. 


• His love of tv watching is dwindling...he's into blocks and computer games right now. 


• He gets overwhelmed in big crowds. 


• His eyelashes are ridiculously long. 


• He has started making up his own songs on the piano and loves classical music...thanks to Little Einsteins. 


• He still asks if God uses a rocket or a fast plane to get people up to heaven. 

Okay, enough of that!  The celebration began Thursday when I took moonpies for everyone in his class.


Friday morning we had a Little Einsteins party here at the house for a few of his friends.  It was our first attempt at a drop-off party and it was a huge success.  We decorated explorers bags, conducted classical music, painted the driveway, had a backyard picnic, opened presents, had dessert, explored the backyard (the kids found an old balloon, a locust shell, and a pile of poo...no, we don't have any animals so this one is still a mystery), and watched an LE episode.  All of the kids were great, we had perfect weather and the birthday boy was very excited.




He had a special treat and Libby was able to spend the night Friday night.  Rachel spent the night with my mom and dad so we took Ethan and Libby out to eat and to a little pumpkin patch near our house.  He told us today that his favorite part of the weekend was the pumpkin patch...you know, the only free thing we did.  We stayed up late playing games and watching movies and had a great time.


On Saturday we had a family party where we all met at Luby's for lunch (yes, he really did pick the place).  It felt so good for him to have 3 great grandparents and 3 grandparents there to help him celebrate...plus a lot of other family!  We ate lunch and then headed back to our house for dessert and presents.  He got some amazing things, and he's really having a hard time deciding what to play with. 



Phew - I'm tired just writing about all of it.  Last night he asked me what we were doing today on his real birthday and I told him we were resting!  And, of course, here are our family birthday pics through the years:

2004


2005


2006


2007 (I think Rachel slept through this party)


2008