Lukey's Big Day!

Luke was really cute the day before his birthday, wanting to make sure we got the sign done and the streamers up.  So we decided to put his mind at ease and just let him help with it all :).  The other kids got to help with the sign as well.  It was fun.  I should have mentioned that we have been counting down til his big day since Noah's!  It's been a LONG wait for some of us ;).  He was very aware of how many days there were and would remind me every morning.  Near the end, he realized he could pull a chair over and change the countdown on the white board himself :).  Funny kid.

So anyway, his day started bright and early with the request to open his gifts.

Once he was all ready for school (along with everyone else), we let him open the gifts from the family.  This is a rare privilege that only occurs when Nate is home in the mornings on birthdays.  Nate decided it was a worthy cause to take work off, so he got leave for Luke's birthday.  That was nice.  And Luke didn't have to wait to open his presents as a result :).  

SO the kids all showered him with their gifts.

It's fun to see what they all picked out (since I was oblivious at the store :)), and how Luke reacted to it all.

We searched all over for this Perplexes EPIC ball (it's the second one in a series that we started on Christmas), finally found it at Three Little Monkeys, and even though it cost a teensy bit more there, this smile made it all worth it :).

Bradley was so proud of his gift.  He knew exactly what Luke likes :).

When he opened Kelly's gift, I don't think he even stopped to look at it before dashing into his room to hide the stash!  She got him mostly treats :).  It was cute to see his face light up with each one!  It's nice to know that with Luke, it won't get gobbled up right away.  He does know how to make it last, I think.

She also got him this stadium horn.... that was funny.  Luke's not a big fan of loud noises, but he was slightly entertained by this one.

I just love this face.  Totally Luke.

We went out on a limb and got Luke a pogo stick.  We had been wanting something different, something active.... this seemed like a fun idea.  Luke seemed intrigued by it.  It will be a while before he will attempt it on his own, I think, but Luke's always good for a challenge.  I think it will end up being a lot of fun for him.

Luke's birthday was also 100 day at school this year!  What a fun day he had!  They got to play and eat junk food all day!  He made this cute little hat, and got the star glasses and a sticker (darn, I didn't get that in the picture!) for his birthday.  It was so much fun!!  He had requested that we bring in donuts for his class, so a sugary donut to top off all of the other crap they ate that day!  I'm sure the parents loved us.

It was our day to drive, so Carter came home with us and we decided that since it was Luke's birthday we could take a break in our wii fast and let them play a little before Carter had to go home.

Once he left, we drove up to Build-A-Bear and let Lukey make his beloved kitty.  I was surprised he wanted to go there, since he had been talking about Boondocks, or Blastzone, but I love that store so I wasn't about to talk him out of it!  I think the fact that this activity could be done "today" was the most appealing.  The other activities would have had to happen on another day.  

So anyway, he made an orange kitty, got him a Broncos football uniform, and named him "Cutie".....  So funny!  

I love the soft side of my little Luke.  He's a sweetie.

I spent most of the day while Luke was at school and playing wii, making his cake.  It was a lot of fun, though I hate doing this ON the birthday.  I wish I could figure out a way to make a fresh cake, but have no work the day of.  Anyway.  I had a little help from Nate, so that helped.

Of course.... Mario :)

I think the thing that made the hard work all worth it on this cake, was seeing Lukey's face light up when he came in the room and saw the Mario I had just molded.  He was so excited!  It was so much fun!!  Felt like I'd just won!  I know I've given up on pretending like I do these JUST for my kids, but I have to admit, it's just SO MUCH MORE FUN when they are excited about it too.  His face was priceless :)

I thought we had a good turn out at his party.  It's always nice to have lots there to celebrate.  Lukey was super cute opening his presents, just one right after the other, so quickly :).  I had mentioned manners as far as presents go, and I think I just made him nervous about how he should react :).  But anyway, he was at least polite.

He's fun with presents because he really does cherish the things he's given.  Even the stuff he doesn't really care about, he will take really good care of.  I like that about Luke.

This was probably my favorite!  He had been asking for Mario Galaxy 2 for.... well, forever, and I have THE HARDEST TIME spending 50 bucks on a wii game!  Especially because they are so easy to ruin!!  I had almost gotten him the Mario Galaxy, but Nate and I both just didn't want to get another wii game.  So of course when Grandpa Hatch asked what he wanted and I told him the situation... he was all over that.  I gave in.  Luke was SO HAPPY THOUGH!!  Look at this face!  He was praising Grandpa all night long.... yep, we let him play it for about an hour that night as soon as the party was over.

Grandma Ruthie gave him the cutest book!  I love the books she finds!  I wish I knew where she got them all.

party guests.  actually smiling ones this time :)

this is what our party guests usually look like.

I'm pretty sure Luke had a fun day.  He was so happy and so fun all day.  It's been a while since we had a pleasant birthday boy :).  I shouldn't say that, but really, some times things get out of control and I don't know if it's the overstimulation or what, but sometimes they just aren't their happy little selves.  He was a fun boy though, and I totally loved his day.  

That night once the speakers and blue ray were all set up, we watched Real Steel on our new tv, with the surround sound.  It was SO COOL!!!  The kids all loved it! 

Family time is the best :)