A Party to Remember

Our sweet boy is (almost) five, and we celebrated him in a big way this weekend.  Nearly thirty of his closest friends joined us for the big bash.  It was very special to watch him play with people from every corner of his life — and do so in a kind and not (overly) rough way.  I’m just so proud of the person he’s becoming, and it was a joy to spend the morning with so many of the people who are helping to shape him into his future self.

It’s hard to be anything but a ball of sap this week, as December 9th approaches.  He’s been asking lots of questions about what we were doing five years ago.  And I can barely choke back the tears as I tell him how eagerly we were awaiting him… how desperately we had been wishing for him… how he made our whole lives so much richer and happier.  He’s the boy who made me a mom, and although we will celebrate him extra loudly this week, I’m grateful for him every minute.

Pre party pictures. Guess who’s five?

“Mommy, I’m wearing this shirt so no one forgets how old I am.”

I think he’s been waiting his whole life to sit in this chair as the birthday boy.

Wipeout, toddler edition.

This isn’t how you come down slides?

It took almost the entire party (and all of Tim’s energy and patience), but Ben can now climb the inflatables on his own!

..and now insists on coming down the slides like this.

Post-pizza and cake limbo

So. Many. Presents.

Very, very happy boy.