Chase turns 4

Above the kids are playing in the little bit of snow-sleet we got.  They had fun and were actually out there quite awhile.

We planned Chase's party for New Year's Day at 11 AM.  So New Year's Eve was the day to get the house in order, clean and cook/bake.  Shannon woke up sick.  I was stressed.  But the kids were good and I got enough done - after all it was just family.  The house was good enough and the food would be ready.  My parents came down early that day and stopped to get what I needed at the store.  I was holding it together but the cake about broke me.  I ran out of powdered sugar so as you can see the icing decoration left a lot to be desired.  But it tasted fine and he liked it so life went on.  Shannon didn't even come out of our room for most of the party.

Chase loves Bob the Builder but finding party supplies for this "older" character was hard.  I kinda improvised for the cake and just put a "bob" beside it.

He didn't quite know what to think of us signing to him and he wasn't going to blow out the candles but Callie helped him so then he was all about it.

After all the practice opening presents at Christmas he was ready to go at his birthday party.  He was having so much fun playing he really didn't want to stop for cake or for presents.  So he blew out the candles, tore thru the presents and got back to playing.  He had no clue what he had gotten.  Later in the afternoon, Rylan started playing with some of the presents and we got them out of packages and Chase finally started looking at what he had gotten.

Shannon and Callie playing the DS - a very common sight these days

This castle from my parents and dragon from Shannon's parents is a huge hit.  

It is so much fun to watch and listen to him play with it.

After getting around for the party on New Year's Eve the kids and I had pizza and played.  We played in the basement and it is so funny how you can go down there and feel closed off from the world.  We had a lot of fun playing the evening away.  And we were all in bed not much later than normal.


Shannon had to go back to work on the 2nd but we did not go back until the 3rd.  John and Linda watched the kids for awhile on the 2nd so I could get caught up. 

On Friday the 4th - Chase's birthday we waited until we got home to give him his gifts from us.  Shannon thought giving him his new "big boy booster seat" like Callie's but for a boy, was a boring gift but I knew he would love it.  He was so excited.  And a military play set - he was happy. 

We had told the kids we would go to Chuck E Cheese that night.  We went out to the car, got all loaded up and..... had a flat tire - completely flat.  It was 5 PM on a Friday night.  The kids were upset.  Actually Chase was pretty good with my offer of McDonalds that night and Chuck E Cheese the next night but Callie was distraught.  AFter much drama John ended up bringing over their vehicle for us to take to Joplin.  Much later start than planned but off we went.  The kids did have a great time.  Cole hung out in his stroller watching all the commotion almost all evening.  Chase was older and could do so many more games - like the basketball and would ride the big wheel.  He still loves to play in the play area.  Callie is all about getting tickets.  They are good and we just split the tickets up and they go back and forth getting whatever they want - no big deal on splitting/sharing there yet anyway.