Ethan's Birthday

The other day Ethan day said to me, "Mama, is my birthday finished now?" I think that's because it felt like he had a birthweek again this year. His real birthday was on Tuesday the 10th. We celebrated by doing our usual tradition of waking him with a special breakfast in bed. Well, he knew all about that by now, so he made sure not to come out of his room and into our bed in the morning. That day he got to eat all his meals on the 'birthday plate' and I let him have a candle with every meal to blow out.

Had to snap this photo quickly because the candle kept tipping over in the mac and cheese.

Although Tuesday was his actual birthday, he kept insisting that it wasn't his real birthday. In his mind his REAL birthday was going to be on Saturday the 14th when Gong Gong, Po Po, Oma and Opa came to have cake and presents. Oh the excitement!! I'm sure he  must have been slighted distracted sitting for 3 hours in Chinese school, but FINALLY the time had come for him. By the time my parents came we couldn't hold him back any longer. We dove right into opening presents and cake. The poor boy had been waiting close to 3 weeks for this.

 I just loved this moment. Maddy was so proud to give him her present. She made a car for him out of a yogurt container, "Because I know he really likes cars."

Ethan's expression as he opened the gift was like she'd just given him the world.

 He played for so long with both his tractor and garbage truck. He even went to sleep with them in his bed. It was 10pm before he finallly crashed. Actually his eyes were blood-shot and puffy he was so tired, but kept insisting he wasn't sleepy at all.

  He asked for a garbage truck cake this year. After a lot of Googling and both Josh and I working on it, this is what we came up with. 

It weighed a ton. Ethan was a bit sad to see that the back of the truck wasn't filled with actual garbage when we cut into it!

After cake and presents the kids were happily playing with the toys and the adults had a chance to chat. We had a nice dinner and then more cake before bed time. It was a lovely, stress-free birthday.

This past Tuesday we brought cupcakes to preschool to share with his new friends. Initially, I wasn't planning to do this since his birthday was before school even started, but I thought that just in case he refused to go to the new school, it would be handy to have the excuse of cupcakes to 'lure' him there. 

I love the serious look on his face. It's like he's willing himself to be taller.

We are now so 'done' with cake. Josh took so many little cupcakes to work, and I was still  throwing some out at home, along with a 1/2 eaten garbage truck. Though the excitement of his birthday is wearing off, he did ask me today in the car, "Mama, how many days until me next birthday."

Happy birthday Ethan!! We love you soooooo much. xoxo