Birthday Boy!

Hooray -- the birthdays are over. As usual, this birthday was an exercise in excess. I once told someone that we don't really give our kids birthday presents and they were in shock. I just feel like they get so much stuff anyway and I usually throw them a party -- so that's the gift. So much time and money -- and sanity -- goes into those parties that I think I can get away without a gift. ;p

Tuesday was the party.
In the blistering 95 degree weather, we ate lunch, played at the park, drew race tracks and raced our cars around, raced our race cars in a heated games of Red Light Green Light and Follow the Leader, ate cake and opened presents. Here is the hideous cake for your laughing pleasure. Do you love the scale of the cars? Or the beautiful placement of them? Nate decided they needed to be back to back. And they suggested you use a fork to make the grass look more lifelike. HA HA HA! My grass looks ridiculous. I could spend all day laughing about the cake, but I'll move on! You, however, are more than welcome to join in!

That night he went to bed and I told him when he woke up he would be 4. Then he started crying because, "I really like being 3. After 4, I'll be 3 again?" Nope. I told him, "After 4, you're 5 and then 6 and then 7. . ." Finally I could see he was going to start crying again, so I lied. "And then 9, and then 10. . . and then 3 again." HUGE smile and then he could sleep.

Wednesday was his actual birthday where he was spoiled rotten! We went to the gym, where they made him a birthday crown. Then to his Pre-school Halloween party where they got to wear costumes -- not his actual Halloween costume, just something so he wouldn't melt -- eat pizza for lunch, and trick-or-treat to all the parents. Then to Jackson's to play for the rest of the day followed by more presents from Garndparents and even his Sunbeam teacher, cake and ice cream.

Oh, and this is the part where I admit that I bought him a present anyway. He had a Speed Racer party and he told me that all he really wanted was a Speed Racer car. When we were at Costco I found these giant cars from the movie and gave in. I figured Ellie got her ears pierced this year, so maybe Nate deserved something too.

I should probably write something really sappy about him, but I'm no good at that. Let's just end with one last story. Nate's Halloween costume is size 4-6 so I told him he couldn't wear it until he was 4 because he wouldn't fit into it. First thing he did when we got home from our adventures was grab the costume out of the closet and scream, "IT fits me now!" He hasn't taken it off since. Could this mean the end of the tutu?