Belated Birthday Post--Chase is 4!!

Like a typical 3-year-old, Chase had been counting down the days until his fourth birthday. For the longest time, the only thing he'd say he wanted for his birthday was "something I can drive." We actually found two Power Wheels four-wheelers on Craigslist, but they were too far away--by the time we figured in the gas to drive and pick them up, the price was more than what we wanted to pay. I had prepared Chase that he probably wouldn't get something he could drive, and he seemed to understand. The night before his birthday, I wrapped his gifts (I think there were six) and set them on the dining room table. I had to work on his birthday, so he was going to have to wait until I got home to open most of his gifts, but Glen had told me he didn't care if I let him open one in the morning, even though he wouldn't be getting up to watch. :) However, on the morning of his birthday, I heard Chase in the kitchen and went right out to greet him.

"Hi, Chase! Happy Birthday!"
"Mom, I wanted something I could drive for my birthday! Why didn't you buy me something I could drive?!"
"Honey, it was just too expensive."
"Mom, I wanted a LOT of presents! Why didn't you buy me a lot of presents?!"
"Listen, do you want to be grateful for the presents we did buy you, or do you want me to put these away?
"I'll be grateful for these presents." (thinks for a little bit) "Is there anyone else coming to bring me presents?"

Needless to say, I didn't even offer to let him open a gift before I left for work. Glen said he didn't ask during the day, and he was very patient and appreciative of ALL of his gifts in the evening. :)

Chase would not smile for the camera, even though I had just given him his birthday cinnamon roll for breakfast.

He wanted macaroni and cheese for his birthday dinner. Grandma and Grandpa B were coming since they were going to be out of town that weekend when the rest of the family was coming. I told Mom they would be welcome to come for dinner but warned her about the macaroni and cheese. Mom wouldn't have cared, but she said if they made it for dinner they'd probably pick something up for Dad on the way. :) Glen ended up fixing hamburgers for everyone. I found this extremely plush, soft yellow blankie at Tuesday Morning. He loved it in the store, and I was able to buy it without his noticing. When he went to bed that night, he decided it needed to be UNDER his pillow, and that's where he's kept it ever since. Mom told me she was getting him army stuff, but she made it a whole theme--his balloon and wrapping paper were camoflage, and she even bought hats and water bottles for Chase and Tate to use when they play with the army toys. They love it.

His RED tractor cake. He specifically asked for red. I don't think the red velvet cake mixes taste very good, but they're handy when you're asked to make a red tractor cake. :)
The girls turned out the lights as we sang to him--notice that no one tried to blow out his candles for him!

I'm going to try to remember to have someone take a picture of Glen and I with each of the kids on their birthday. I'm sure I don't have very many pictures of just the three of us.

We celebrated with the rest of the family on Saturday after the horse show (another post, coming soon!). This time he wanted the tractor to be green, so I baked chocolate and thought if I made the frosting real runny it would still show the detail. It didn't really work, but he didn't care, and I thought this cake tasted MUCH better. Just what I needed. :)And just because he's so cute, another song and candles video:It's hard for me to think about his being four. Definitely not a baby anymore! I'm kind of glad he's got a late birthday, since I get to keep him home with me again next year.