CJ's 4TH BIRTHDAY...HIS FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY

Tuesday July 26th

CJ's 4th birthday started with Mommy and Daddy and Mattie singing him "Happy Birthday" around the kitchen table, and then a yummy breakfast of donuts, orange julius, and watermelon. CJ specifically picked four pieces of watermelon to eat :)

After eating breakfast, the kids wanted to play with some of CJ's birthday balloons, so they each got to choose one from the bouquets

After some playtime, CJ got to enjoy one of his favorite things: a bath!

Then after getting all clean and dressed up, Mommy wanted to take some pictures of her big 4 year old boy. CJ has learned to cheese it up for the camera

Per his request, lunch was spent at "old McDonald's." Daddy met us there and CJ had a blast playing

Then, after naps, it was finally time for CJ's birthday party. He couldn't wait! A week before his birthday, CJ and Mommy hand-delivered his party invitations to each of the kids in his Sunbeam class (4 others besides himself). And to CJ's delight, they all came!

Here's the birthday crew (L-R): Bennett K., Charle C., the birthday boy - CJ, Cierra P., Owen T., and Mattie. Because CJ's party was in the evening, the kids first had something to eat: pizza, fruit and veggies, and Capri Suns to drink

After dinner, it was time for some games. Since CJ wanted a bug theme, we sent the kids on a bug hunt in the back yard. They each got their own magnifying glass and collection bag, and were sent out to collect all 48 rubber bugs Daddy had planted in the backyard. After they were all found, the kids counted up the bugs they had and prizes were given (everyone got a prize for something)

Then it was time to unveil CJ's surprise - his pinata! He'd been asking for one for months, and unfortunately, we couldn't find a bug pinata, but the number 4 worked just great. Each kid got a couple of turns, and CJ got 3 or 4 turns, before Daddy finally had to bust the thing open so the kids could get the candy :)

Then it was time for presents! This is what the hearth looked like before the party (Mommy waited to put out CJ's gifts so that he wouldn't be tortured by them)...only Grandma Forsgren's package

But this is what CJ got to open! Spoiled kid! We did learn that maybe next year we'll do the family gifts separately from the friend gifts

All the kids were SUPER excited to give CJ their gifts...and to help him open all of them too :)

This is what he made out with from all his family and friends. It's like Christmas! Mental note: if he's having a party, we should probably scale back a little bit on what we give him :)

Then is was time to sing to the birthday boy! Thanks to Grandma Forsgren, everyone got a blower and a hat

And Mommy went a little different this year. To follow the bug theme, instead of a cake, Mommy made earthworm parfaits (brownie, ice cream, pudding, whip cream, oreo crumbles, with gummy worms and jelly bellys to look like rocks). Then all the kids went home with a butterfly catcher filled with all sorts of goodies (flashlight, stickers, bubbles, candy, bug catchers, straws, sunglasses, etc) as their party favors. All the kids got along so great and it was a huge success! Though it was exhausting for Mommy and Daddy, to see how much fun CJ, and his friends, had made it all so totally worth it  

Happy Birthday, to our sweet 4 year old, CJ!

We love you like crazy!!