Happy Birthday Crew!

It seemed rather appropriate that I was up all night to get home to my little boys and slightly exhausted while celebrating Crew's 4th birthday! (I had Crew at 4 am after and got very little sleep on the day of his birth.) 

As soon as I heard Crew waking up, I went upstairs and poked my head in his door. Sawyer was still sleeping as Crew and I did a silent, but joyous, celebration! I was greeted with tight squeezes and Crew saying, "I missed you, Mom!" We found ourselves snuggling on the couch and not being able to stop smiling and giving each other loves. Soon Abe and Sawyer were awake and it was great to be together as a family!

Crew was so excited about his birthday and making a cake with Grandma. It was all he talked about before and during our trip. I think his cake met all expectations!

 All meals came with the traditional candle! For a small thank you for all that my parents did, we bought everyone lunch. Grandpa even came home early from work to join in the noon-time celebration! Anne also joined us before she went off to work.

Crew requested waffles, eggs, and sausage for his birthday. I guess everyone was surprised and kept on checking to see if he wanted a different meal. Nope! He wanted breakfast for dinner. While helping to prepare his meal he made sure to use his extra-strong four year old muscles to stir the jam. The silly boy kept trying to eat a spoonful of the homemade jam and didn't like being told he couldn't eat it out of the jar!

 Sawyer was pretty excited and kept on being silly with everyone.

 It was way exciting to celebrate with Liam and Molly there too! It was a great family party!

 Dinner was fabulous. Grandpa knows how to make a good waffle! We were all so full from dinner that we had to open presents before we cut into the cake. Crew loved every present he got and gave great reactions! He received scripture characters from Grandma and Grandpa, an activity book from Liam and Molly, pirate pajamas and a small Book of Mormon with his name on it, from us, and a helicopter from Abe.

helicopter

Finally, the long awaited moment arrived; cake time! Crew enjoyed dumping and scooping for a short time before we finally ate the cake. I think he was in birthday heaven!

The other two little boys waited very patiently as Crew would hand them the occasional rock candy.

Crew had a wonderful day! He is an a pick pirate kick right now, which explains the pirate shirt from our trip and the pirate pajamas for his birthday. He is full of energy and loves to work hard. His kindness sometimes surprised me because it's beyond my expectations of a four year old. He is quick to love, apologize, and help another. He also knows how to be a big tease and handles being teased very well. Being dressed right away in the morning is very important to him, and often times he will come out of his room all dressed and ready for the day as soon as he wakes up. Singing, dancing, playing legos (playgos is what he calls them), working on the farm with Dad, feeding cows, riding his four wheeler, and running are all on his lists of most requested pastimes. I love this little boy and can't imagine my life without him. He has made my life sweeter and much more rewarding!