We celebrated our dear Sammy Boy's birthday today!
His birthday was actually yesterday. Sunday. We planned on maybe having him have a cake and some gifts with our family. Then Marianne got really sick, so instead we spent Sunday morning at the insta-care- no pneumonia like we thought- just a double ear infection. Then Jake took Sam and Kate to church. Then we decided since I was staying home with sick littles, that while they were away at church I would transform the house and we could have a little surprise party after church for him. This plan had me leaving the girls at the house asleep in their cribs for naps while I drove to the church to get the presents we forgot in the truck of the car Jake drove there and back (good thing the church is basically in our backyard) baking a decorating an entire cake, blowing up balloons, hanging streamers, etc. Just as I was finishing the icing on the cake i heard the garage door open- 30 minutes earlier than I expected. I peeked my head out to have Jake tell me that Primary brought Sam to him crying because his ear hurt... suspicions confirmed, he also had ear infections. So I told them to stay in the car for a minutes while I took down the whole party. I didn't want him to be crying at his birthday. So we settled on just saving everything for tomorrow which is when we had planned his friend party anyways.
Sam decided on a soccer birthday some time ago. He had big plans to play all the kids vs. his Dad. Then on his own he thought about doing it at the rec center. Weeks later when talking about it again I said "lets just do it at our house" Later that night Sam came out of his room crying because he really wanted to do it at the rec center and he was coming up with all kinds of ways to make that possible. Of course when I realized that going to the rec center to play on a turf feild was important to him- we made that the plan. We take birthday's pretty seriously around here! Together he and I reserved a field at the rec center, and low and behold they also rent out party rooms for cheap! Then he helped me design his invitations and we handed them out. The anticipation for her birthday was slowly killing him. Every day, every hour almost asking about how many more days until his party. And then it finally came.
The night before I decorated his door and hall with soccer balls, a sign and balloons. I did this one time and now it is tradition I guess. He quickly dressed in his soccer clothes. Then we worked on setting up for our family party. Jake worked in the morning but came home early so we could celebrate. He could hardly stand it once he saw his pile of presents.
We had let him open one present Sunday night since he was not feeling good and it was kind of a perfect present for being sick- a new xbox game. He loved it, and so did the whole family, sunday night we spent playing it together. It kept him distracted long enough for Jake to come home for the day before it was even lunch time.
We decorated with balloons. and had a green tablecloth. Sam came up with the idea to make it a soccer field by putting the cake in the middle and cones on both ends like goals.... that guy :) Also see that pile of streamers on the table- that is the streamers I had hung the night before but had to secretly rip down. And the cake is no masterpiece, but Sam thought it looked enough like a soccer ball anyway.
He opened all his presents first. Then we sang him Happy Birthday, blew out his candles, and ate cake. I took a picture of him looking at his cake right before he blows the candles out. I swear he makes this same face each year- it is one of contentment and almost reflection it seems- not his excitement smile. I can recognize it on him as a different kind. It makes me happy. We also did our traditional everyone goes around the table and says why they love the birthday person, it is always a sweet time to hear what siblings have to say about their brother and watch him receive all the compliments.
After cake it was time to try out one of his new gifts- his helmet and scooter. Kate showed him the ropes on how to ride a scooter around the culda sac while Jake and I hung out with Bethy on the lawn... yes the lawn, in February in Utah. We have no snow in our yard and today it was almot 60 degrees. The kids and Jake even went on a bike ride later!
Anxiously he played with his gifts until party time came. We tried out best to make a rec center room look festive with balloons and tableclothes and party favors (I thought the gatorade was pretty clever of me) oh and store ordered cupcakes. I decided that $10 worth of cupcakes it worth not making cupcakes especially since I was already make the cake, Sam enjoyed going to the store and ordering them with me picking out the frosting flavor. Then we waited for his friends to arrive.
Soon we had a large group of friends running around the Rec Center turf field. We started with some throw in practice and goal kicks. We attempted a scrimmage but it was pretty difficult with so many different ages and no refs, so then we did everyone against Dad, and Sam even scored two times just like he has been dreaming and talking about for weeks. We ran them out all the kids. Then let Sam open gifts, blow out a candle on a cupcake and eat them. Then it was back out for more running around. It was everything I think he hoped for. And if you are going to have like eight boys over to your house- don't and make them go crazy at the rec center instead because they were crazy, and I didn't have to worry about my house to it was awesome!
Next... yes next, the party day is not over yet, we headed to Dairy Keen and met my parents, aunt and brother for dinner. Where Sam ate a hamburger, his favorite, ice cream and opened even more presents. He has money too from both grandparents which he plans to spend on more presents- unless we can convince him to put some in the bank.... because seriously he does not need any more presents!
We finally came home, got in our pj's and let him play with everything. Which was a lot of he and Dad putting together the giant collection of transformers he managed to get from everyone. We let him stay up a few extra minutes even to play with all his new stuff.
Then we tucked a 5 year old boy into bed.
I'm heart broken really that he is a five year old. My only little boy is old enough for kindergarten. I told him that today. He said... I guess you should grow me a brother in your tummy then. Smart kid.
We love our Sam with all our heart. He makes our home complete.
Lots more about our sweetheart boy coming up later this week.
