Andrew's Birthday - 7 is Heaven!

Once again, there were several days involved in the celebration of a birthday in our family. Andrew's first party was at Grandma & Grandpa Slade's house, on the traditional "Third Sunday Dinner," and was shared with Jase, whose birthday is just about 2 weeks before his own. In Andrew's honor, French Toast Sticks were part of the menu.

Aunt Kathie made their birthday cake, continuing a tradition they began while we were living in Pennsylvania of making a volcano cake, including dry ice, for Jase's birthday. Andrew had said he wanted a ToonTown cake, so Kathie added some cool printouts of ToonTown characters dancing around the base.

(There was a little talk of whether or not it was appropiate to be cheering and laughing about a volcano while the whole of Europe & Iceland were still suffering the effects of a recent volcano eruption, but after a contemplative pause, we continued.)

We gave Jase a card that Andrew and Ethan designed & signed, with $5 attached to the inside.

Grandma & Grandpa Slade gave him an outfit to wear to their activity of riding the bumper boats at Boondocks, sometime when the weather isn't cold, rainy, or snowy (as it has been rather often lately).

Kathie & Henry gave Jase & Andrew matching Nerf guns that kept them entertained from the moment they opened them until we were telling them to get into the car to go.

Grandpa Slade had us each say something we loved about each of the birthday boys. It was fun to hear what others in our extended family see in our boy - he's smart & can see through someone's "tricks", he plays well with his cousins, he's obedient, he's happy and fun.

The next celebration was at Grandma & Grandpa Larsen's house. We went over on Saturday, the 17th, and helped clean out their basement a little, so they could effectively make progress toward finishing it. Grandma mentioned that they would like to give him his birthday present while we were there, and it was all he could do to wait until lunch was made and we were all gathered so he could open it. They gave him a card that played Star Wars Theme music, the book "Falling Up" - which had recently been added to his wish list and fits his sense of humor perfectly - and a dollar, since he's been interested in counting and recounting his money lately too!

His party there was the next day (and I forgot to bring the camera), and was shared with a whole bunch of April birthdays - Grandma Larsen (who has his SAME birthday), Grandpa Larsen, Uncle Erik, Uncle Ben, Uncle Josh Jensen, Great-Grandma Larsen & Great-Grandpa Larsen (who weren't there, but who were mentioned with love)! All the adult children (except Justin & Tina, who couldn't make it and who had already taken them out to dinner for their gift), had gone in together on a gift to cover birthdays and Mother's Day/Father's Day. It was a kid-sized picnic table and an airplane teeter-totter that can fit 7 kids at a time! (I must admit that, even though I thought Jayni's idea to give them the picnic table, and my idea to add the airplane, were great ideas, it felt a little selfish to be giving them gifts that were meant for the enjoyment of all OUR children; but, they get such a kick out of being grandparents and having fun things at their house for their grandchildren that we knew they'd love it!)

On Andrew's actual birthday, we gave him our presents: a Star Wars the Clone Wars MadLibs book, a Kids Word Searches book, a Magic Treehouse book, and a Soccer Ball. He was happy with all of it!

We served French Toast Sticks for breakfast, he had a homemade lunch that included snap peas (from Sam's Club, as the ones we planted have not matured enough to produce any yet), and had Rainbow Tortellini, Corn on the Cob, and Snap Peas for dinner. (I never thought a meal he chose would include so many vegetables! Hooray!)

Then, we all went to Dylan's for shakes, since he got a coupon for a free one, from his school, for having a birthday in April.

Andrew's final celebration was the Friday following his birthday. We let him invite 10 friends to a ToonTown/Club Penguin birthday party (Should I really be encouraging all this online gaming nonsense? - At least there's no real violence involved, and it's a way to connect with some friends across vast distances. . .) I was just as excited as he was for the party, for I was "well-pleased" with some of the ingenius things I had planned to carry the themes through the party. With his approval, we made Puffle cupcakes, instead of a recreation of his ToonTown character, Wierdcliff Nickelseed. Ethan and Alex helped me nearly every step of the way, so they got to choose theirs first and add sprinkles so they could tell them apart from the others.

I made cardstock cards of Fire, Snow, and Water to recreate the Card-Jitsu game from Club Penguin (which is actually a more involved version of Rock, Paper, Scissors), and played Human Card-Jitsu, taking the idea from Human Tic-Tac-Toe listed in the LDS Game Book.

We played my stand-by games for this age or older: Twisted Pretzel & Cinnamon Roll. Then, we played the Best game I came up with: Cog Attack. Earlier in the week, I'd asked a talented, artistic friend/neighbor of ours, Tyler Stott, to draw a Cog (the bad guys from ToonTown) on a large piece of cardboard. He painted a Legal Eagle (Andrew's favorite). Meanwhile, I purchase whipped cream spray and aluminum pie pans. You get the idea - the kids donned our store of "paint shirts" and just threw pies at the Cog. It was GREAT! Since it was cold outside, we had to do the activity in our garage, but I'm sure we'll get the mess cleaned up someday!

Even Grandma Chase got into the action!The end result was very satisfying for all! We also played Barnyard Din (from LDS Game Book), Hide & Go Seek, & Sardines.

Andrew was a little disappointed that I wouldn't let him invite all his cousins, along with his friends, so he was very grateful I let him include Uncle Trevor! Grandma & Grandpa Chase, & Uncle Trevor & Uncle Bryan, of course, gave him some Super Saturdays toys (which we previously knew nothing of, but which he's played with nearly constantly since the party), a Bank in the shape of a Knight's head, and $5. He was thrilled. Andrew received wonderful gifts from all his guests! He gave Glow-in-the-Dark Stars to his guests, and to Ethan & Alex, with a Club Penguin thank you note attached.

This was everyone who came: (Anna Larsen, who was pictured above and had to leave early), Uncle Trevor (above, far left), Jacob Hess, Aubree Hoffman, Ethan Balls, Carson Jones (above, far right), Nathaniel Haroldsen (below, next to Andrew), Isaac Ball, and Kyler Haroldsen (below, in background, with Puffle as his face). Kaleb Shroeder, from Andrew's Primary class, was also invited and came over later that day, with a gift, and played for a while.

After the party I looked a little closer at the bag that Anna decorated herself for Andrew's gift. Ever since she played Cinderella in the FairyTale Friday production I put on in Andrew's class, I've really liked her. She's just a neat girl. Apparently, she thinks Andrew is pretty "neat" too:

We are so proud of the boy Andrew is, and the young man he is becoming! It's amazing to me that there's only a year until he can choose to be baptized! He's making the right choices now to be prepared for that day. Lately he's been extra sweet to his brothers, playing with them, making them laugh, and helping them learn new things. He's very responsible about his chores - often doing them without even being reminded to, and always before he asks to get on the computer of have a friend over. He's good about following the limits we've set for his computer time (one hour of Educational time, and one hour Action time - anything not educational). He delights in reading his own Book of Mormon, though it's not a regular occurance yet, and in writing in his journal, though that is also not regular yet. Mike and I are so grateful that he came to our family and was the first one to make us parents!

A Trip to the Fire Station

Ethan's Preschool had a field trip to the local fire station, the day before we were to leave for our vacation to San Diego. Ethan had been to another fire station several months ago, with his cousins, while I went with Andrew to a free trial of karate lessons. I had been looking forward to watching him have this experience, (because he was once totally infatuated with fire engines), but when it came right down to time to leave, I wasn't sure I wanted to take the time to leave the progress I was making in packing. We had just replaced his holey, shoelaced shoes with lovely velcro ones. So, I told him to put on his shoes in the next 5 minutes, or we were not going. I believe finished getting them on at 4 minutes and 51 seconds, after quite a bit of complaining. I just remember that the fire safety movie had already started when we walked in.

Just then, I noticed the smell eminating from Alex's diaper. So, I missed the movie to change a diaper in the car.

The firemen seemed at a loss as to what seven 3 & 4 year olds would want to know about the fire station. It was kind of humorous to hear the man list off the parts of the truck, pointing to them awkwardly, as the kids gazed around the large garage, not understanding much of what the guy was saying. Some of the kids' interest was piqued when he was describing how the Jaws of Life get people out of cars that are too wrecked for them to get themselves out.

The coolest thing, according to Ethan, was walking through the cab of the truck. They climbed up, walked through, and climbed down. I don't even think most of them saw anything while they were inside; it was just cool that they got to go inside! LOL.

I thought it was cool when they showed the kids the "Boots & Bunkers" from inside the Ambulance. I had visions of fastening my kids shoes to their outfits for the day, so that getting dressed would be less of a hassle, and their shoes would be less likely to get lost. Ha, ha.

I asked the firemen if the kids could try on their helmet, just to see how heavy it was. Ethan refused to try it on, but Alex was anxious to be one of the first.

This is Elliott. He ran home and dressed up as a fireman, using things from around the house. I don't think he included a helmet - perhaps this was why:

My second favorite part was the picture on the front of the truck we took at the end. They're all such cute little kids! Too bad the sun was right in their eyes.

Ethan Turns 4

We did so much to celebrate Ethan's birthday this year! First, at the third Sunday dinner with the Slade family, Ethan shared his celebration with Aunt Kathie, whose birthday is Jan. 13th. I bought a Puzzle Cake cupcake set, and he chose the Rocket cake for this party. I didn't have a pan large enough to fit all the cupcakes it called for, so it became a shorter rocket. Brooklyn kept saying, "Look, it's a little house with fire under it!" We gave Kathie a gift card to Chiles, which can be used other places too.

Kathie & Henry gave Ethan another Thomas train to go with his set.

Grandma and Grandpa Slade gave him a Fridge Phonics set and a coupon for a trip to Chuck E. Cheese's. The next day, being Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, they were both off work, so they took Ethan for his date. He had lots of fun. Grandma said that he talked to them nonstop the whole way there and back. That is very unusual for Ethan, who is often much more quiet and reserved. He gets a little more talkative in smaller groups. He does best one-on-one. I'm glad they had that special time together.

At first, Ethan thought that he was already four now, since we'd sung to him, had cake, and opened presents. After we explained that he still had to wait for his actual birthday, he counted down the days! "How many more days now?" he would ask, daily.

When we asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday, and gave him a few options, he first wanted to go to Union Station and see the trains with Elliott, but a few days before he changed his mind and decided that going to Kangaroo Zoo would be more fun. Kangaroo Zoo is a blow-up playground. It has obstacle courses, a traditional bounce house, and lots of slides of varying height and steepness.

This was Ethan's first time down a slide by himself. He was pretty nervous! In fact, he even climbed to the top of a few only to turn around and chicken out. I went down with him a few times, and then he got brave enough to try alone.
As you can see, he loved it! He got braver and braver each time he faced a taller slide!

Alex, my fearless adventurerer, loved it too!

Andrew was out of school that day, so he was able to come along for the fun. Most of the time he was running around on his own, so I didn't get many pictures of him. He had a great time.
Quinn didn't like the instability of the ground the last time he went to Kangaroo Zoo, so this time he mostly stayed happily in the arms of his mom. (Unlike Alex, who kept me running from place to place keeping him away from other participant's drinks, cross-stitch, or babies. He also kept climbing on top of a large, white, metal box and trying to jump off. It's another small miracle that he didn't end up with stitches by the end of our visit!)

Elliott, on the other hand, had a blast! He showed Ethan how to go down the slides when Ethan was saying that he was too scared when he was 3, but maybe he would when he was 4.

They were so cute together! Sometimes following each other around, sometimes separating to enjoy things their own way. I'm sooo bummed that the picture I took of them together cut their heads off. And, the battery in my camera died right as they were about to slide down during the video I was taking. Grr. Oh well.

Finally, Ethan turned 4 on Saturday, January 30, 2010. I spent much of this day reflecting on the day he was born, and how much he had grown and matured in the last year. I went through his scrapbooks many times, which are grossly incomplete - but, I'm glad I have what I have. I remember feeling, when he was born, that our family was exactly as it should have been. That Ethan was a special person that was meant to come to us, and that he and Andrew would have a special bond between them. I'm so proud, now, of all the ways Ethan has developed in the last year! He has done very well at accepting and adjusting to our move from the only home he remembers, in West Wyoming, PA. He has worked so hard in his Talking Time class, and at home, that I've received many compliments, from family and friends, on how well he speaks now. Even the teachers are saying that he may be ready to graduate soon. (That makes him sad, because he says he loves Talking Time. I'm hoping that when he does graduate, I can be sure to spend more quality one-on-one time with him, because I think that's half of what he loves so much about it.) Ethan has also become such a wonderful big brother for Alex! He talks sweetly to him, explaining to Alex just how to play what they're playing (most of the time). And is still so considerate and willing to share with both of his brothers. And my very favorite thing right now, is when he says, out of the blue, in the middle of the day, "Mom, . . . I love you!" I'm glad he's our son!

On Sunday, we had some family over for cake and ice cream and presents. We didn't officially call it a party, because we didn't want people to feel obligated to come. And many of our extended family were sick or busy with other plans. But, most of the people whom Ethan wanted most to be there were able to come. Dad and Danette brought Trevor. Mom and Brent came after they attended a funeral for the father of a friend. And Will and Heidi brought their kids, despite Will feeling sick.

This time Ethan opted for the Dump Truck out of cupcakes, and I came up with my own version of a Garbage Truck to go with it.

Brooklyn was eager to help Ethan with all of his birthday duties. Luckily, Ethan was willing to have her help him.

Alex devoured every last drop of his Cookies & Cream Ice Cream.

Ethan received an animated gorilla from Dad & Danette (which Alex and Braxton loved immensely!! I got great video, with our camcorder, of them dancing and squealing as they watched it walk.)

Mom and Brent gave it their best possible effort to fulfill Ethan's birthday wish to have a 3 1/2 foot gummy snake. (That's what he wanted to buy with his $5 from Grandma Bertie, but he settled for a box of gummy sharks when we couldn't find one anywhere.) When they couldn't find one after 5 stores, they stapled together several squiggly snakes to equal 3 1/2 feet. I know, cute, huh? Then, they also gave him a big Hot Wheels set that they found for a terrific price! Alex and Braxton loved it too!

Will & Heidi, and Brooklyn, Jase and Braxton, gave him a set of Crayola 3D Color Explosion paper & pens. Ethan was so nice to share with everyone. He wanted everyone to have a chance to try it out. We gave Ethan a DVD of An American Tail, Balto, and Land Before Time. (We figured it'd be a good entertainer during our trip to California coming up.) We'd already given him the bunk beds, but I wanted him to have something to open too.

This is the Robotic Arm Ethan bought with his $3 gift card from Toys R Us, though it cost $6. Oh well. It's cool. Brooklyn took this picture (and about a hundred others). She's actually a pretty good photographer for being only 6 years old!

Jase and Andrew spent as much time as they could on the computer, as usual. It's nice that they're still so close, despite the 3 years in age difference!

The next morning, Alex and Ethan had tons of fun playing with the amazing Hot Wheels set and Gorilla.