The BEST Birthday EVER!

STETSON CHARLES BLACK

Can you believe this handsome little guy just turned 4?

We started out with a party at Grandma and Grandpa Grover's house on Sunday night, complete with party hats and noise makers (not my idea, but the kids LOVED them!).  Dad thought it would be great if Stetson wore ALL the party hats at once . . . what do you think?

After a super yummy dinner of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, and of course CHOCOLATE MILK, it was time for presents.  The first was from Uncle Jesse, who is serving a mission in Sacramento California.  You would have thought it was a million dollars to see how excited Stetson was!  Though the million dollars would have been nice, the picture of the prophet Joseph Smith was great too!

What's better than a basket full of treats from Grandma and Grandpa Grover?

If anyone can pick the perfect gift for Stetson, it is his cousin J.D.  These boys are the best of friends, so J.D. was smart to pick out a lego set just like his for Stetson.  Now they can play together, and they don't even have to share!

So this year it was all about football.  Stetson's uncle Jens plays football for the San Juan Broncos, and according to Stetson, "Jens is Awesome!"  So of course we had to have a football cake - or two football cakes since they were so small.  If you can't tell, the top football says Stetson, and the bottom one says #4.  Stetson chose the number 4 candle for his birthday cake about 2 months ago, but when it came right down to it, he wished he had four candles instead, oh well!

I felt bad that I had to work on Stetson's birthday, but such is life I guess.  I don't think he minded at all since that meant that he got to play with his cousin J.D. all day.  I was able to take Stetson to lunch, however, and Patio was the perfect choice.  A grilled cheese sandwich, french fries and root beer, topped off with a vanilla baby cone (the perfect size for an ice cream cone, if you ask me!).

How did I get so lucky to have a lunch date with this guy?

I let Stetson move his carseat to the front seat for the day . . . not safe, I know, but it made him feel big!  We ate the ice cream in the car on the way back to the babysitter's.  Notice the ribbon?  It says Birthday Boy, and he wore it faithfully for two days and two nights (yes, he did pin it to his pajamas and wear it to bed!).

After work I met my sister and the kids at the park and brought them all doughnuts - Stetson's favorite treat from the grocery store.  I was grateful it was such a nice day, and the kids enjoyed playing and getting some of that excess energy out.

J.D., Stetson, Zachary

Stetson wanted to invite Grandma and Grandpa Black over for his birthday party, and he even called and invited them himself!  We were grateful they were able to come and celebrate with us.  The kids LOVE their grandparents so much, it is such a blessing to live so close to them! 

Stetson and Grandma Black

Stetson and Grandpa Black

We had spaghetti for dinner, Stetson's favorite, though he didn't eat much because he was too excited.  Then it was time for presents!  Stetson's was super excited to get new shoes from Grandma and Grandpa Black, and has since worn them every day.  Everywhere we go, he has to show off his new shoes and tell people that he got them for his birthday.

Ever since Jens' 16th birthday, where he had to follow clues to find his 16 presents, Stetson said that what he wanted for his birthday was "clues and presents".  I thought he might be disappointed to get 'just a card' at the beginning, but he wasn't, he was super excited.  I'm sad I didn't get a photo of him finding each gift, but we did get it all on video, so all is not lost.  More for my record than anyone else's, here is the detail on the treasure hunt:

Clue #1

Stetson has a dog, his name is Spot,

Stetson's house is big, Spot's is not.

(present number one, a book of hundreds of stickers, was hidden in Spot's dog house)

Clue #2

If Stetson had HIS way,

He would watch Curious George here EVERY day!

(present number two, four different colors of play dough, was hidden behind our TV upstairs)

Clue #3

The wheels on Lucy's car go round and round,

All through the town.

(present number three, two CARS card games, was hidden in Lucy's flinstone-style car outside)

Clue #4

It's raining, it's pouring, Stetson is snoring.

He went to bed and covered his head, and didn't wake up 'til morning.

(present number four, a set of stamps, was hidden under Stetson's bed)

Clue #5

This is the last clue, don't frown or fret,

If you get this one right, you'll get the best present yet!

Mom needs a new office 'cuz she gave hers away,

we will build her one at home, so she'll have more time to play!

(and the final present, the "big daddy" of them all, was in the room that will be our office as soon as we get it finished) 

A new big boy bike for Stetson!!!

That is one HAPPY boy!

We left the bike upstairs and went down to finish the festivities, and this is what I saw . . .

Lucy, sneaking up the stairs to check our her brother's new bike!

So I waited a few minutes, then followed her up, and this is what I found . . .

She had climbed up there all by herself!  Looks like maybe this bike was made for two!

And then it was time for cake - just one football this time, and one candle for Stetson to blow out.  He made a wish, then blew that one candle out like a pro.

Some of Stetson's favorite people, Aunt Suzie, Kade and Trace came by earlier in the day and brought Stetson a present, some candy, a whistle, and a jumping monkey, which turned out to be the highlight of the whole day!  After eating cake and ice cream we got out the monkey and started playing with it.  You wind it up, set it on a hard surface, and it jumps really high and does a back flip, landing on its feet.  The reaction from Stetson and Lucy was priceless!  The monkey did so many back flips that night, it got to the point where it could hardly stand, but it never got old for these two!  Thanks Suzie and kids!!!

I wish you could see Lucy's face in this photo as well - pure joy!

At one point during the festivites Stetson came up and gave me a gave me a hug and said, "this is the BEST birthday EVER!"  And that made it all worth it!  We love this little guy more than words can say, and are so proud of him.  We look forward to many more BEST BIRTHDAYS EVER!

Disclaimer: I am having trouble with my camera, hence the poor quality of the photos.  But a bad picture is better than no picture, right?