four!

Last Saturday was G's 4th birthday. Seriously! I really don't know how it came to this so fast. And being that G turned 4, of course we had 4 birthday parties! (really, this was a coincidence - we are NOT going to set this precedence)

Birthday Party #1:

The Sunday before G's birthday, all the B's gathered at M&C's house for a birthday lunch. G's birthday is the 29th, Auntie C's birthday is just 5 days before hers, and Uncle C's birthday is the month following so we celebrated everyone's!

Auntie C taking her turn blowing out candles on the cake - with plenty of help, of course!

And Uncle C taking his turn blowing out the candles on the yummy 7 lb chocolate cake! =)

We had a very nice afternoon all together!

Birthday Party #2:

G's actual birthday! Boppa and Aahma were here to help celebrate. We had one of G's favorite meals for lunch - homemade mac'n'cheese and hotdogs. Then it was time for presents! G got some fun books, a puzzle and jean pocket bean bags (filled with soybeans from Boppa's field) from Aahma and Boppa, a big set of duplo lego blocks from us, and then...

...a bike!!! This was a big surprise for G and she was SO excited! She had well grown out of her trike and needed some new wheels (or at least new to her - S & I knew the presents that we wanted to get for her and decided to find them on craigslist instead of buying them new. bike $25 -plus $12 for new bell and streamers, blocks $20...savings of $80-$100 easily!)!

G getting ready to go while S instructs her on the finer points of braking, going slow, don't go out in the street without and adult, always wear your helmet, look ahead at where you are going..."OK Dadda, let's just GO!"

And there she goes...good thing I was behind the camera so no one could see the tears rolling down my cheeks - is she really this old already? What a big girl!

G getting a new bike means that W gets upgraded to the trike (he thinks he is the big man now when he rides it), and little C gets upgraded to the stroller. New fun for everyone!

Quite the birthday parade!

Birthday Party #3:

That evening Uncle J, Antie C, K & G came by with a gift for G...

...a new art smock made by Auntie C and water color pencils - what fun! And then we all went out to eat at G's favorite restaurant, noodles. Good noodles and a good time was had by all!

Birthday Party #4:

Sunday afternoon we had our neighbors over for a little party for G. We have been blessed with wonderful neighbors who are so nice and who love the kids. So it is always fun to get together with them. And what better excuse than a birthday party!

Mrs. L asked G quite a while back what kind of birthday cake she was going to ask for this year. G of course answered "chocolate!" Then somehow Mrs. L and her decided that the chocolate cake needed to have pink frosting. With that tall order, I teased Mrs. L that she should make it, and she actually did! Complete with sprinkles too. It was very yummy and everyone enjoyed it!

~~~

S and I may lament how fast G (and all the kids!) is growing up, but really, we are having so much fun watching G get big and mature. It is amazing the things she can do. She is a bright, happy, social little girl who loves to play, create, sing, pretend, be outside, talk, ask WHY, and who can understand so much already.

We love you G!