The next day

Jack's big brothers had really wanted to get Jack some things from It's Sugar that they knew he would love, so the next day Nate ran and picked those things up for them to give him.  It was so cute to see them surprise him with it the day AFTER his birthday.  He was definitely good and spoiled :).

A giant gummi pizza and a giant gummi snake!

Jack the Birthday Boy!

So this is Jack, on his birthday, first thing in the morning.  He always looks like this when he wakes up :).  It's super cute.  He woke up and even though he loved his sign and all the birthday excitement, he was still himself :).

Everybody was anxious to see Jack open his gifts :).

How lucky for him, his birthday fell on garbage day!!  A highlight for sure!

Okay, this really has nothing to do with Jack's birthday- it was just a cute picture :).

Oh, he's waking up!

We took Jackie to Build-a-bear the day BEFORE his birthday because we were so excited for him to go there :).  And because his birthday was already packed.  He LOVED going there and was so excited about his "Toofless" nicknamed "Fluff Lee".  I wish I had pictures of him there.  I will have to steal Kelly's.

We did let Jack Jack open one present in the morning.  Mostly because it was for his cake that I was going to be making him :).

Wild Kratts action figures!!

seems happy with it :)

So Jack and I did spend a little bit of his day making his cake :).  His choice!  He was totally supposed to go out to lunch with Grandma Hatch, but he opted out of that and wanted, BEGGED ME TO LET HIM! to help me make his cake!  It was actually so much fun!  He asks TONS of questions and takes in ALL the information that he can, so it was fun to spend that time with him.  And he gets the award for the best reaction to a cake!  He had tried to talk me into a tiger with a scary face and claws out, etc, but I know how the "live tiger" request ends.  Not good huh Noah :).  So I refused.  I told him we would do tiger looking frosting and that he would like it and sure enough, when I got all the stripes on and had it looking right, he let out a pleased, "WHOA! Dat cool!  Thank you make me dat!"  His tone and words, totally melted my heart!  I was so happy :).  Makes it all worth it :).  Turned out pretty cute if I do say so myself :).  And we even had Chris and Martin (I still can't believe he cared about them and knew their names- I mean, he watches the show enough that he should, I just can't believe it :) )

So while we were making his cake I talked Jack into having Liam come over.  (I had been trying to talk him into doing something "fun" all day)  They were adorable and then even more so when Will showed up too.  I LOVED how Jack quieted everyone down to tell them it was his birthday and that he was going to be four.  Very serious.  It was funny.  He's so serious :).  So then the three little boys proceeded to critique, sample, question, and advise me while I made the cake :).  It was probably the most fun I've ever had making a cake.  I hope they didn't go home TOO sugared up after all the powdered sugar, marshmallows, frosting, and then Rice Krispie Treat (that is what we made is cake out of instead of cake, his choice).  They were SO FUN!!  I keep laughing about Will every time they seemed a little bored, or there was a lull, I would say, "What do you guys want to do now?" Thinking they might have more fun doing something else together and Will would always say, "How 'bout we eat the cake?" or "Time to eat the cake!" all mater of fact like :).  HAHA!! He was SURE we needed to eat the cake right then, there was no need to wait til the party :).  SO funny.  So I told them they would have to come back during Jack's family party to have some of the cake :).  Cracked me up.  They were really fun.  I'm so glad Jack has friends.  

The Three Musketeers :).

So Jack played with his friends, watched his favorite show, and made a cake.  He really hated anything that was going to make him leave the house that day.  Even picking up the kids from school was like pulling teeth.  It was so interesting to me.  He even refused to have his party at the park for some reason.  He was VERY set against it though and I wasn't about to force him to go to a park.  So we stayed home and had his party here.  It was a bummer that we had to have his party when we did, 3:00-5:00 (so not many people could come- but Grandma Hatch and Simon did).  We just had SO MUCH that week!  I hope that someday he gets to have his birthday NOT on the first week of school.  Who knows.  

He was very excited for his presents :).  Of course.

Erika made him a coloring book!

The kids insisted that he do the guessing game thing where you guess who is giving you your present after they say something in a disguised voice.  It was so funny to hear him guess right on almost all of them!  He knew right away too!  SO fun!  Very cool.  I couldn't stop laughing about it.

I wonder what he wished for :).  

I can't believe this little guy is four.  It's so weird to have my babies growing up.  He was SO ready to turn four though and now he can't wait til he turns five and goes to school :).  Talks about it already.  I am so proud of him and who he is becoming.  Such a sweet, loving, gentle, little guy.  So polite and so willing to help and share mot of the time.  I love his hugs and kisses, and all the long talks in the car :).  He and I really have become friends this last year- it's been fun.  Happy Birthday, little guy!

First Day of School 2016

I actually felt pretty ready for the first day of school this year.  Not ready to get rid of my kids, just ready like I got up early and had everything taken care of- there wasn't that hectic mad dash feeling like there is sometimes.  The kids did great too!  Helps that they were kind of excited for school.  Even Luke.

Charity is in 9th grade experiencing her first year of AP classes!

Kelly is in 8th grade very excited to be the office assistant during Lunch :)

Lukey is in 5th grade with Mrs. Moncur

Bradley is in 6th grade with Mrs. Downs

Noah is in 3rd grade with Mrs. Turnbow's 2nd/3rd split

Erika is in 1st grade! All day school!  With Mrs. Burns

I wish my pictures had turned out better... should have gotten out Jami's lens.

But look how cute they look!  All spiffed up for school!  I have to say I am loving the neon coming back in.  So fun!  I mean seriously, look at Erika's shoes!  If those don't scream Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper to you- then you're missing out!

I don't know why they wanted to be up against the brick wall, I wanted one where you can see the school, but oh well.  I guess this is the school :)

Everyone seemed perfectly happy with life when they got home too, which is nice!  I think this is going to be a great year!