NICK'S BIRTHDAY

Wow, what a celebration! I think it started in June. Or maybe May. Nick plans his birthdays well in advance and down to the very last detail, many times over! This year was no exception....for weeks preceding his big day, we laid down at night and talked and discussed and "nailed down," as he called it, all the final details. As always, it turned out just the way he wanted it to!

The day started early, 5:55 a.m. (This detail was non-negotiable....6 a.m. was to be the very earliest he could get out of bed...!) The kid hardly slept....he was still awake at 11pm when we tried to sneak in to decorate his room....Nevertheless, we dashed downstairs  for the birthday breakfast. The table was ready for him with all of his presents. It practically killed him to save a few for later, but he did! His favorite surprises of the morning were the Silly Bandz from Ben, shoes from Mom, slingshot from Dad, and candy treats from Olivia. The look on his face when he opened those Silly Bandz was priceless!

Brother of the Year.....

The face of a kid who never thought he would get a sling shot....

After his breakfast of cinnamon rolls and sausage, out he went to try the new slingshot. Note the color of the sky...black. Pitch black.

The after-school party plans included Nick's two best buddies and his favorite mouse:

The kids had a blast playing games and redeeming their tickets for treasures like Laffy Taffy and tiny plastic bugs. Then home we went for Nick's pizza of choice, Papa John's with cheese, and Rootbeer.

Nick had very specific ideas for his cake as well....six layers, white inside and out, Kansas City Royals logo perched on the very top. Got it, mom?! I was so nervous that I was going to mess up that I had to say a little prayer before I started decorating!

He loved the cake and looked like he was going to dive into it while we were singing!

His eyes really were bigger than his tummy...never once could he eat a whole piece of this cake!

After cake and ice cream and a little playtime outside, it was time for the remianing gifts. Olivia and I had put together a little scavenger hunt with clues for him to find his last gift from the family....

...and we had him running all over the place! Check out his sweaty little face....

All too soon, the party was over...and my boy was officially one year older! Nicky, you are the best! I absolutely LOVE the way you get so excited for your birthday and all the thought you put into making it just perfect. You have a sweet, crazy little personality that keeps me laughing every single day. The things you say and the jokes you tell are the funniest on earth. You are so stinkin smart and your heart is so big and tender. I adore how you think about things so very carefully. I love that you would still sleep in my room every night if you could and that you kiss me twice and ask for "kissing hands" every time you leave for school. I miss you, too, when you are gone, but I am really proud of how hard you work and all the things you are learning. You read like the wind and, unlike your mom, think math is the greatest thing ever! Good for you! ( How else are you going to be able to count the oodles of money you make selling lemonade in the driveway?!)  I can't wait to see all the awesome things you do as a seven year old! Love you forever,

Mommy

XOXOXOXOX