Four.

Still silly.

We started off your birthday morning with a babywearing meeting at the park.  Then off to lunch at zpizza.  Next up was a ‘surprise place,’ also known as the bike shop, to acquire a very special birthday bike, helmet, gloves, and a bell.  After a short ride, it was time for birthday nap followed by more riding.

Finally, we had birthday dinner and celebrated with candles and the birthday ring.  This year we added a butterfly.  Usually we do the birthday ring first thing in the morning, but it somehow waited this year.

Saturday was time for the birthday party.  Everyone was able to make it.  You were surrounded by your loving family and friends that you’ve had since you were an infant.  Your theme was inspired by the love and admiration you hold for your father.

This cake topper was the only souvenir we purchased during our trip to PA.  It was a surprise that we kept away from your eyes until your party day.  There’s a ’4′ on the firefighter’s helmet and water in his bucket.

Your Grandmou and I stayed up the night before the party, talking and decorating your cake and cupcakes.  She brought little person shaped cookies to resemble firefighters.  Everything was imbued with our love.

Firetruck fondant cupcake toppers were purchased from etsy.

Red pepper hummus, guacamole, red & yellow bell peppers, carrots, and veggie sticks.

You’ve seen your dad dressed up in his firefighter gear countless times before.  Nothing could have prepared me for the pure joy on your face and the delight in your squeals as he walked through the back yard gate, holding your birthday cake, in full bunker gear.  I regret that I missed the photo, but I did manage these two:

So proud of his dad!

Daddy’s big, gloved hands shielded your birthday candles from the wind that had threatened to continue blowing them out.  The cake is in a bit of disarray after a certain someone couldn’t resist a bit of vulnerable icing.

I wasn’t sure what the weather would bring.  The week before your birthday, we had temps dipping down into the 20′s.  This day however, the high was something like 77F!  One mention of the possibility of getting a bouncy house and that was all you could think about.  So, we did.  We managed to find one that had a firefighter theme, as well.  Nevermind that it seemed nearly as big as our house!

Your friends received ‘fire buckets’ for their favors.  We dyed 21″ square silks burnt orange and wrapped mini crayon rolls and a wooden firetruck magnet inside them.  We then put them into red buckets for the full effect.  See how they match your bucket-toting little firefighter?  Yeah, we planned that.

I hope you had a wonderful birthday and enjoyed being surrounded by family and friends for your party.  Above all else, I hope you know that you are loved.  I’m so proud to be your mama and I’m so glad that we get to take this journey together.  xoxo