ethan's birthday

ethan's birthday morning (last friday) started off as it has ever since he can remember... with this flaming muffin coming into his room as he is serenaded with "happy birthday". i love this tradition we've established. i think i have just as much fun as the kids do. :) and can you see how caroline is looking with joy and admiration at the birthday boy?


that picture reminded me of the same shot from last year... funny how it is so similar! (including ethan's pajamas!)


ethan went straight to the table to open his presents. he is very very proud to be 5!


i happened upon this shirt when i was in kohl's last week... it was incredibly fitting considering ethan's gifts mostly revolved around soccer this year. (if you can't see the details... there are soccer graphics inside the "5".)


ethan made me laugh later that morning when he looked down at his shirt and exclaimed, "oh!! the whole thing is a 5!" i guess he was a little confused about why we were making such a big deal about the shirt when he opened it. apparently he just looked at it upside down and didn't recognize the 5. :) he and i had a good laugh about that when he figured it out.

this is one of my favorites of ethan from his birthday. i just wanna squeeze him.


he was so surprised when he opened up his very own walkie talkies!


ethan is pretty into soccer right now, especially with the world cup going on. it was the perfect time to give him his own soccer ball, cones for backyard practice, a trainer (see below), and a duffle bag to store everything.


and what do you give a boy who has a ton of legos?! more legos! he was thrilled to open this castle set, and his sister was thrilled that it included a princess!


here is my birthday boy with his birthday muffin.


ethan is saying, "mommy, you make the best muffins in the whole wide world." (he loves to tell me this when i've made his favorite foods.) thanks, sweetie. i'll pass the word on to betty crocker.


next, it was time to work off all those muffins! while the kids ate, daddy demonstrated the soccer trainer.


it's great because ethan can play with it inside and not hurt his sisters or break anything it kind of minimizes the damage. the boys were having a lot of fun with this thing...


and caroline was not to be left out! good thing that ball is attached!


after brian left for work, i looked in the living room and saw our little copy-cat...


the rest of the morning was spent at the kitchen table building this castle. it's pretty cool. it has a moving gate, a catapult, and flaming oil. and a princess, of course... and "a horse with clothes", which is caroline's favorite part.


my mom brought chickfila to us for lunch, and she surprised ethan by telling him that he would soon be on his very own soccer team! i think he liked the idea of that...


she gave him a really cute soccer photo book, and this is what she put in the place of the first photo.


ethan's just waiting for that call from his coach to tell him what team he is on! we should find out by the end of the month. he cannot wait. gram gave him some shinguards which seemed SO TINY but fit him perfectly. now we just have to get this boy some cleats and he is ready to play!


ethan chose tgifriday's for his birthday dinner... brian's parents, grandmother, and karina joined us to celebrate. i love this picture of nana and pappy hanging out with the older grands.


the birthday boy picked tgif's because he wanted their dirt cake. i don't know if i've ever seen someone happier about gummy worms swimming in pudding with some oreo crumbs on top. :)


we woke up the next morning to a beautiful sunny day, which was perfect for his pool party!!!!! be back soon with a big splash! happy birthday ethan!