Happy Birthday, Shane! 2014 - 4 Years Old

Hip, hip, hooray! Shane turned four Saturday! It was a team effort.

We did not do a lot of planning this year. Carrie was stressed-out. I've been busy with work, wrestling, and boy wrangling. Last weekend, I asked Daniel's family if they'd be up for doing anything on Saturday. Carrie looked up when the play place near us opened during the week, we sent a few texts, and then it was upon us.

Saturday morning, we hit the grocery store. Shane loved Mommy's cart. His eyes nearly popped out of his head when she asked if he wanted to hop on. Her eyes nearly popped out as he wildly vaulted onto her lap and hurt knee.

The throttle is near the handles. Shane volunteered his services.

Life's a blur when a three year old won't let off the gas. You're not going that fast, but the thrill is still there as you try to steer clear of all the wine bottles. We collected all of our cupcake supplies in record time.

And Shane rode Harry the Dragon on our way out. It only cost a penny!

While Carrie stayed home to make her cupcakes (description to follow), Shane and I went to the play center. We stood lookout on a wall to greet Nana, Pop, and Jama. Daniel and Mike came a few minutes later. Party on! I couldn't get any good pictures of Daniel and Shane clamoring around. They moved too fast!

They stopped to enjoy some video games and were easier to focus on. No tokens required at this age (I hear Nana ruined that with Coleman!)

I thought this ride was the coolest.

It only seated one. No room for a buddy or an astromech unit.

I'm so glad Shane could not read the advertising on this one. It was a "Hurricane Simulator."

Two bucks per simulation. Ouch. I doubt it would last more than 30 seconds to a minute. Shane would have gone nuts...and nuts...and nuts...and nuts. He probably would have made me drop two-hundred dollars into it and then bawled when the money stopped.

Daniel showed a more lasting interest in the games than Shane did. I helped him up on the motorcycle. The boat game was his favorite.

Shane ran off to play in the imagination rooms. He would occasionally run back across the entire building to offer Daniel a fresh slice of plastic pizza.

Carrie called after an hour and said, "Cupcakes are done! Come home!"

Play places are tough on mother's with crutches. 

I swear I have a picture. I'll put it here!

The birthday cake was really a collection of cupcakes frosted together. They were Carrie's take on "dirt" cakes. She made chocolate cupcakes, sawed off the tops to make them flat, and added chocolate pudding. Then she put chocolate frosting on top, sprinkled crushed chocolate oreo knockoffs for 'dirt,' and added gummy worms and other goodies. 

We all sang Happy Birthday. Daniel was horrified we started without him.

Jessica came over to visit, and Nana, Pop, and Jama made their exits shortly thereafter. The boys played well all the way up until nap time. 

Shane woke up and discovered the party wasn't over. Kim and Ryan were here! They brought lots of presents.

To say "Shane was excited" is an understatement. 

He threw himself onto Kim with a hug. It was awesome to see him A) super excited and B) GRATEFUL! 

Ryan gave the inaugural read of several classics during the present frenzy. 

The 'boys' went up to roughhouse in Shane's room afterwards. Pillows were thrown.

Shane LOVED his birthday. He felt really loved by everyone. Thank you, from all of us. Thank you, God, for all of our family and friends.

Next weekend, the party continues. Grandma and Grandpa will be in town. We're going to take Shane to the free model train exhibit at the church outside our neighborhood.