James is 4 years old!!!

How is it possible that I've become a mom of a 4-year-old?? James is 4 years old today, and I can't believe how much he's grown. It hit me when he was cutting the ribbons off his gifts all on his own (with safety scissors). He didn't need help unwrapping his gifts anymore. :-( How blissfully wonderful that he is independent and yet bittersweet... all these steps are steps farther away from us. Necessary, but sad nonetheless. Anyway, James asked for a party with an "Up theme and one big train." We delivered! The whole party was themed after the Disney movie Up... James had a Russell costume (he only wore the sash for a little while... he was cranky after his nap and it kept falling off him). The kids all got Wilderness Explorer scarves and the adults got Ellie badges. I had a blast blowing up balloons and making a little house fly around the room. I also had some travel posters from Paradise falls, an adventure book featuring James's adventures from the last year, a "Paradise Falls" savings jar, some stuffed and paper characters, Balloons and clouds cupcakes, clouds hanging from the ceiling, and an Adventure is Out There print. I plan on using a lot of these things in the kids room since I am redecorating James's room to accommodate both the kids and it will have an UP theme. :-) The kids all had a great time running around with balloons and playing "Find the Squirrel." The adults participated in a "Guess the skittles in a jar" game which my mom won. James loved blowing out the candle on his cupcake (and eating it). He got lots of cool gifts, including a big LEGO duplo train, "big boy" LEGOs a helicopter, some planes, a mini cooper, some toy story figurines, and books, among other things too numerous to mention. He was one happy kiddo and loved assembling the train with his cousins and sister. Tonight in the tub, without any prompting, he told me Ellie was his best friend in the whole world. <3 And now some pics of the birthday boy!

Evergreen Aviation Museum!

Today, as a surprise, we took James to an early 4th birthday gift of the Evergreen Aviation Museum to see the Spruce Goose (which is actually made of birch, not spruce). James was SO excited to see all the airplanes, and Ellie was happy as a clam running around checking everything out. James really wanted to "go in the big plane!" so that is what we did. The spruce goose weighs 200 tons, has 8 engines, and is HUGE. Highlights of the day (for me) included sitting in the cockpit with Eliot (some nice couple asked us if we wanted to go on their tour with them), James figuring out the flight simulators, Watching all the kids run around the airplanes and fly in the airplane ride, and watching them all play together in the park. James couldn't believe there was even more airplanes every time he turned around. We were blessed to be joined in today's adventure by Papa, Mimi, Uncle Nathan, Aunt Lindy and cousins Levi and Asher. It was a fun group, though the place was so big we rarely saw one another! I also ran into my friend from the Chorale Ron, who works as a volunteer there as a former Marine. All in all, it was an excellent day. James Asked me if we could go back next year. :-)