An Out-Of-This-World Party

Julian requested a "rocket ship" birthday party this year and though we ended up with crummy weather, we still had a great time celebrating our big preschooler. He seems so grown up to me these days and is learning something new everyday. 

At four years old, he is sweet and kind-hearted. He is rambunctious and wild and very boy-ish. (Read: loves potty humor, likes to turn everything into a weapon, his new favorite word is "bash!") For the most part he is patient and loving with his little sister. I love to hear him answer her questions and teach her new things. He loves school and making new friends, having plans and places to go, and thinking about what people or objects might say in any given situation. (ie: "Momma, what would my hair say if I cut it all off?") 

Or...

Me: Julian please quit throwing your shoes across the room.

J: What would you say if I did it again? And again and again and again? What would you say if I never quit throwing my shoes ever, ever again?

Me: sigh

 

 

 

 

Should've gotten a haircut before his party.

\

 

 Eliana clearly enjoying the party

 Blast off!

 He was a little excited about the bounce house.

 Good thing Uncle Tyler was on hand to save Evie after Daddy tried jumping in. It did say "5 and under" on the side.

 Uncle Deej cracking J up with "earthquakes"

 

 Goody bags!

 And cake!!

 Surfin'

 The big boys liked this racetrack just as much as the little boys did!

Well, maybe not quite as much.

 

The cake is in effect!

He even got to celebrate a couple more days after his party. We had the requested pizza and a pickle cake for his actual birthday dinner. I don't know where the idea for a pickle cake came from, but he was sure that was what he wanted. It was even stranger that I used the heart-shaped pan (I just came across it first) and the mix he picked out was a Halloween confetti cake.

 

 They made a big deal out of it at preschool on Friday and gave him a crown and sang to him.  

And if you think that cake sounds random, you should have seen the gifts we got him. I hid about 10 little gifts all around the house for him to find and they included, but were not limited to: a mini Christmas nutcracker, Halloween window clings, and multicolored skeleton lights for his room. He loved every single thing and that is one of the things I love about this kid and his current age. He loved the homemade decorations I made for his party and came out saying "Oh my goodness! Look at this!" He got a huge kick out of anything wrapped up just for him and was thrilled with any small gesture for his special day. 

In all honesty, it's pretty hard to sum him up. He's becoming more wonderfully complicated as he gets older and I can't just list his favorite things and make a list of his new accomplishments and feel like it explains him. He's coming into his own and it's been so amazing to watch him grow and reveal more of who he is and will be. I love this kid.

Four Years Old

New Favorites

My new favorite from Evie 

At bedtime, after a book, we rock and sing a few songs together. It's usually the same three, in the same order. It is one of the best parts of my day to feel her rest her little head on me and be so content to cuddle quietly. Recently though, she has started singing along with me. It probably goes without saying, but it is adorable. I think she waited until she knew the words before she decided to chime in one night, but now we sing together every night. This might be sappy, but I imagine her baby brother listening and learning the same songs as we all rock together in her room. I'm sure she'll help me sing to him when he gets here in four short months. 

Waiting for her shots...so excited!

My new favorite from Julian 

He is loving preschool, going to the Y, and Sunday school. He is particularly into "best friends" now and pretty much any kid whose name he can remember is his new best friend. He's so proud to tell me who all of his friends are and uses this great mock-adult "it's-no-big-deal-but-yeah-it-is" voice that cracks me up. Even better is that any of his female best friends also fall into the category of his "girls." As in..."Oh, Natalie? Yeah, we played today. She's one of my girls."

Honorable Mentions

My girl is saying all her ABC's, counting (to 13!), and wait for it...finally letting me leave her places! That is huge for me. Both kids had a hard time being left anywhere early on and I've never had the heart to do it if they're unhappy. And with both kids I hoped and prayed that they would eventually just get to that stage/age where it would suddenly be OK. And it is...hallelujah! I've joined the Y and the kids love playing at the "Y playground" and I love the quiet time to exercise, shower, and actually do my hair!

 Julian's new favorite? Scavenger hunts!

And leave it to Daddy to solve the downspout trouble. For those not on Facebook, Julian has been taking the downspout off the house in the backyard to use it as a slide for balls and rocks. And although I appreciate the innovation, it doesn't make for the safest toy. 

 

So the next time Daddy was at Lowes, he picked up a couple pieces of plastic drainage pipe, attached them to the playhouse and viola! The kids get such a kick out of dropping stuff down them.

We had a fun birthday party for our big four-year-old this weekend. Pictures to come...