I won't hash out all my feelings like I seem to do year after year, but the point is MJ's birthday is a VERY special day. Mat and I are both quite emotional leading up to it, and when the day arrives we are just so thankful in celebrating his life knowing how terribly different that day could have gone four years ago. His birth always will be something to be really treasured.
In case I haven't shared before, we're actually heading to Florida with the kids next week. Probably by next winter, I'll actually getting around to blogging about it. ;) We are taking the kids to Disney for the first time in honor of MJ's birthday. Because we're taking this special trip, we didn't do a birthday party per say this year, but we still made the day so very special for little MJ. He woke up that morning to a house decorated in his honor with banners, balloons, birthday clings, and presents. He woke up at 6:30AM (about an hour earlier than normal) to scope out the house. In fact, when I crawled into bed with him the previous night around 11. ( Side note: this is kind of my tradition in ringing in his birthday with him. As a baby, I liked to take him out of his crib and rock him around the time of his birth. Now that I'm more tired and he's bigger, I settled for an 11PM snuggle in his bed), he asked me if he was now four and then proceeded to ask me if I'd decorated for his birthday. He knows his mama well. :)
The day before his birthday, he received a special delivery: balloons, juice boxes, and animal crackers from Gigi and PopPop! He felt like quite a special boy receiving a delivery!
Some of MJ's birthday decor and all his gifts and cards awaiting him on his birthday morning.
After we all woke up and got dressed, we got straight down to business...the obligatory birthday photo, and then MJ got to pick one present to go ahead and open:
After that it was time to hit the road. We have a Family Pass to the Dubuque River Museum and Aquarium (one of our favorite local spots), and we had received a special invite for the grand opening of their new turtle exhibit. It included breakfast and just so happened to be on MJ's birthday, so it seemed like the perfect outing. We let MJ choose one friend he'd like to ask to come with us. He picked his friend, Halia. Her mom just happens to absolutely adore Charlotte, and since we can't fit 3 car seats in our car, we did a kid swap for a few hours. She was thrilled to get to babysit Charlotte, and MJ enjoyed some special big kid time with Halia for a bit. We missed Miss C, but I think she was probably happier being spoiled on herself.
Up close with turtles
Cheesing for mom
Love these smiles at the water table! MJ and Halia sure got wet!
At the aquarium, MJ and Halia explored all the exhibits, petted turtles, played in the water table area for quite a time, picked out snacks, and each picked out a stuffed turtle to bring home. Before returning Haila home, we hit up McDonald's for lunch and some playtime at the indoor playground. Then, it was off to retrieve Charlotte and head home!
While Charlotte took her afternoon nap, MJ opened all the rest of his presents and cards. He even got to Face Time with Uncle Jeff and make some thank-you phone calls to several family members.
Showing off his loot from Mema and Papa
Face Time with Uncle Jeff
MJ received Hungry Hungry Hippo from Charlotte ;), and I must say this has got to be his favorite gift. We've played it at least 101 times already. :)
After a little down time for the birthday boy and once little sister woke up from her nap, it was cake time!!
I got brave this year and tried making MJ's birthday cake. I've never made one of my kids a birthday cake before, unless cupcakes count, and although it's far from perfect, I was quite impressed with my "4" cake. I found an idea on Pinterest...go figure! My little man was happy to dig in to his cake and of course ate the important part first-the icing.
This picture of Lil Miss just cracks me up. In case you can't tell she's clutching her whole piece of cake in her hand next to her chest. She's giving me the look of death as if I might try to pry it from her little baby hand. Girly loves her sweets!
As if McDonald's and cake wasn't enough junk food for one day, we had to have a special dinner of course, so off for pizza it was! We went to Happy Joe's, which is a local pizza place with some arcade games...nothing fancy, but little ones seem to love it, and they made a big deal over MJ's birthday which was all the better.
Birthday sundae lit, and the birthday boy standing while we all sang Happy Birthday to this sweet 4 year old!
It had been a cold, rainy day most of MJ's birthday. We knew the weather was going to be even worse the next day and we'd likely be stuck indoors, so we stopped by Redbox for a kid flick. By the time we pulled into the garage, MJ was wet from the rain, totally knocked out, and clutching his Redbox. All signs of a great birthday, right?
Happy Birthday to our sweet boy! We are so blessed by your life.
1 comment:
Thanks for the posting and pictures, busy Momma. He is such a miracle in so many ways! It is thrilling to "watch" him celebrating #4!!! MJ is such a blessing and loved by so many, especially this Gigi!
Post a Comment