Birthday Bits

We've sort of made it a habit in our family to make birthdays, family affairs.  We take a small trip or we go do something new and/or special together to mark the occasion.  But THIS year, the big 5 needed an actual birthday party for once.  I kept bringing it up to Josh (it being a milestone number and all) and he kept knocking my idea down.  But when Noah started asking for a party himself, Josh caved and we got down to business.  A party, it was!

 

His sweet friends that came to celebrate with him were Porter (from church), Luke, Lucy, and Andrew (from school), Colman (from soccer), Claire, Selina, Renzo, Ryan, and James (from playgroup), and Kellin (Colman's sister) as a helper.  Noah's Mimmie and Papa came to town for the occasion, too.  We blew up balloons, put up streamers, decorated with Star Wars faces, and borrowed a wonderful jump house from Ryan's mom.  The kids jumped, relayed (sort of), chased balloons, ran around, ate cake and ice cream, and obliterated a Darth Vader pinata.  It was an active 2 hours and it wore me and Josh flat out but the memory of Noah's joy as his friends sang to him made it worth all the planning, prepping, and partying.   It was so special for HIM to be the birthday boy among friends for once.  Observe. 

In other birthday news, Noah got all manner of gifts relating to Star Wars, superhero action figures, video games, vehicles, crafts, and birthday money to boot.    On May 2nd, his actual birthday, he also got a phone call from Tania (his birth mother) while we were at the beach.  This was pretty special because it was the first time he has ever spoken to her on the phone.  I can't believe he's old enough to take a little ownership of his relationship with her already!  That's kind of exciting to think about.  On this, his 5th birthday, Noah took in a few other "firsts" as well - first time at the beach, first game of putt-putt, and first go-kart ride.  And like I said, first birthday party with friends.  (We did have a little get together when he turned 1, but you know what I mean - first party he remembers and chose the guest list for.)  I think that comes out to FIVE firsts, which is appropriate, no? :)

Some pics of his birthday at the beach and his birthday party back home with friends....

Hello, new Star Wars video game!

 And hello, new Wii, to play them on!

Birthday building at the beach...

Birthday dinner at Lambert's Cafe with family.  The waitress had Noah stand up in his chair so the whole place could clap for the birthday boy.  He was so surprised at that!

 

More presents....and more Star Wars video games, too!  The kicker is, he chooses to play the games Aaron gave him for the old Xbox instead of the new ones on the Wii! 

Birthday round of putt-putt.  

We got home last week in time to unpack and set up for the party.  We also got home in time for the rain, which meant we had to set this bad boy up on the porch and living room instead.  Ha!

Some of the decorations...

 

All of Noah's partygoer friends. 

Showing Darth Vader who's boss...

 Time for cake and candles!

And the sun came out just in time for the kids to run off all the sugary steam outside after all. :)  

 

It was a happy birthday, Noah Brown.  How could it not be?  Things just don't get any happier than having you around.  I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you. 

(5 yr. check-up stats:  You passed your hearing and vision tests with flying colors and you suffered through your 3 vaccines with much weeping and gnashing of teeth, poor boy.  You weigh 38 lbs and you are 40 1/4 inches tall, which puts you in the 10th percentile.  At your allergy check up we learned that your IgE levels in your bloodwork went down (from 17 to 5.6).  Your peanut allergy is still severe, but that is a step in the right direction.  You allergist also said we could take you off 2 of your 3 seasonal allergy meds and only use them in peak seasons and/or days of your allergy shots, which by the way, are now only going to be every 3 weeks instead of every 2.  I can't believe we've been doing them for 2 years now!)