Happy Fourth Birthday, Grant!

Our little man turned four years old!  Wow.  Where does the time go!  I feel like I say that more and more the older my children get.  We had a great day.  It started with a breakfast of breakfast burritos and the famed Birthday Caterpillar, both at Grant's request.  He opened a couple of gifts in the morning.
Then Kenneth and I had to get moving to get ready for Grant's party.  We had a few families over for lunch to celebrate.  Kenneth barbecued chicken, Larchar style, and we had a pinata, tug-of-war, and fun on the slip 'n' slide and in the kiddie pool.  It was a pretty good day- even if it was 99 degrees out!!

Here is his Birthday Interview:

How old are you today?  Four

Do you have a nick name?   Grant ___ Larchar (we didn't want to put his full name out there)
What?! That's not your nickname.  What's your nickname? I have three names...Grant ____ Larchar
Mom: What do we call you for fun: Sweetie

What is your favorite animal? Buffalo...no actually horse, a bucking horse...You have to ask what's my favorite tractor, Dad
Dad: What's your favorite tractor? A mower...a lawn mower.  That's my favorite tractor, Dad.

What is your favorite color? Green and blue and red...that's all my favorite colors

What is your favorite treat? Ummmm lollypop...they're in my pinata right over there.
What is your favorite food?  Cold cereal

What is your favorite song? I am a Child of God

What is your favorite movie or show?   Lightning McQueen and my favorite movie...what's a fun movie Dad?
Dad: Turbo?  Yeah, that's my favorite.
Who is your best friend?  Isaac - my cousin

What is your favorite book?  I don't know..A fun book ...
Dad: Like the Doctor Seuss books? yeah that's my favorite

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Construction truck worker

Who loves you the most?  Isaac

What is your favorite thing to do? Play with the remote controlled plane - the air blaster.

Where is your favorite place to go?  Park

What is your favorite toy? Remote controlled airplane, the air blaster

What is your favorite time of the day?  Going outside ...feeding the chickens  That's all I'm doing - now it is time to open the presents
Why?  Because it is...now I'm done.  I'm not taking any more.

What have you learned today?  Birthday

Grant, is there anything you would like to say on your Birthday?  Happy Birthday!!

Here are the pictures of the day:

The Birthday Breakfast.  Grant was so excited when the caterpillar entered the room!

Here he is with the Birthday Caterpillar

Here he is opening his first gift, 'A Things that Go' sticker book.  So excited!

Opening his Birthday card from Grandma Pilz- he knew there would be $4 inside.  Can you tell he is very pleased!

Hmmm. . .what can I buy with this?  Whaddaya think Arianna?

 

Opening his next gift- a building set from Mom and Dad.

Kenneth did a great job barbecuing the chicken- it was delicious!

Enjoying lunch- I love the age range of the kids on this blanket- so cool.

This week we prepared the pinata.  I asked Grant what picture he wanted me to draw so he could color it to put on the pinata.  He said,  "a crow; a blackbird".  I said, "What about a tractor? Or Turbo?"  "No, a Crow."  I thought it was a little weird, but hey, it's HIS Birthday!

the pinata

The Birthday boy taking a whack at the pinata.

He even got to make the final blow!

Kenneth tossed the candy up in the air and they were off!

Attack!

After the pinata they had an impromptu game of tug-of-war.

I did it again.  I just can't make a regular cake for my children.  I have to do something funky.  But, this time it turned out great!  I saw a recipe for a scrumptious cake which just happened to be gluten free.  So, I made it.  (We did have a gluten-free guest, so it was nice for her!)  It was delicious and you'd never guess that the secret ingredient was cooked quinoa!  When Kenneth found out how I was decorating the cake, he was not okay with it.  He told me it was a girl cake.  To quote him..."Enough with all this girl stuff - Just because the boys are out numbered doesn't mean we need to continue the 'froufrou' girly crap all year." So, he and I stayed up til 11:30 pm making a cake set-up for a real boy.  Wait til you see what Kenneth came up with!!!

I made the cake the day before and Grant helped lick the whisk from the frosting.

Happy boy!

The cake.

The unveiling. (The cake is under the barn)

The excitement!

The awe!  Grant's expressions were hilarious.  It was back and forth between 'where is the cake? and the excitement of new tractors.  Is that barn mine!?...I thought we were having cake?...Look at those cool tractors!...I'm going to drive over all the girl dolls with them!...are we having cake?

I think it was a hit!!!  The other little boys at the party wanted those tractors and that barn, let me tell you!!!

Make a wish!  My poor sweaty boy!  I told you it was hot!  If you look closely, you can see that all my chocolate garnishes are melted. =( 

Grant loved his cake- he even had seconds.  Shhhh. . .don't tell him there's quinoa in it!

While Grant wanted to be inside all afternoon after the party playing with his tractors, the girls stayed outside all afternoon!  They were loving the pool and sprinklers.

For his Birthday dinner, Grant chose corn-on-the-cob and kettle corn.  Funny guy.

We had a wonderful day.  I hope he will remember it for years to come!