Mr. Trouble On Feet Turns Four!

Mr. Trouble on Feet has been waiting and waiting and waiting all year for his birthday to occur again.  He patiently celebrated all of his siblings’ birthdays and his parents’ birthdays and the birthdays of friends.  All through fall, winter, summer and spring he inquired about when it would actually be summer, because that is the season of his birthday.  There has been much anticipation for this celebration.

Although I was up earlier getting ready for the big day, Mr. TOF’s day started with some “birthday penguin movies” snuggled in bed with dad, who was leaving for a Boundary Waters Canoe trip later that morning.  Mr. TOF actually woke up while the middle kidlets and I were on a quick errand to the grocery store to pick out the donuts for breakfast in the bathtub and balloons, because balloons are very, very important for a birthday celebration.  Mr. TOF specifically requested a donut with frosting and sprinkles.  His favorite color is blue, and The Banana found just the perfect donut for him.

YaYa is missing from the birthday celebration because she is off to Bible camp this week.

The Banana made this celebratory sign on the chalkboard.  Mr. SP made a great sign with a big number four on the other chalkboard, but unfortunately before I got a picture of it, the board  got washed off in the intermittent rain showers that poured on us off and on all day long.  

Mr. TOF loved every single present that he opened.  He had such a delightful time opening the presents, and he was truly grateful and so excited for each one.  His favorite present was this “wee-ooo guy suit.”  He had been wanting this fireman costume for months and months.  Every time we visited Barnes and Nobles, he swooned over it.  I questioned actually buying it, because we have so. many. costumes here, but I had the distinct feeling that his birthday would not be the same without it.  Good move.  This boy loves his fireman outfit.  He takes special care of it, and puts it in a special place every night before he goes to sleep.  He knows where all the pieces are.  He wears it all the time, unless he’s eating something sticky, which prompts him to take it off because he doesn’t want the jacket to end up in the laundry where it might not be accessible.  

I found this great wooden fire truck with a fireman guy that matches our dollhouse people.  He loved it.  The Banana painted the awesome fire station we found at a craft store the day before his birthday.  I think it is probably supposed to be a train station or a bus station, but she cleverly turned it into a fire station.

Before she left for camp, YaYa sewed some special clothes for Mr. TOF’s doll, named Boy.  

Every kidlet in our family has a special birthday table cloth.  Unfortunately, I never seem to iron them.  The table cloth is out at each birthday, and each person who comes to the party signs their name next to the special number.  In the afternoon two of our friends came over to play and have cake.  They played fireman/policeman, built with blocks, and rode bikes and scooters on the front sidewalk. 

Mr. TOF might need a few lessons on breathing and blowing.  It took him a LONG time to get those four candles blown out, but he did it, and I think he enjoyed every moment!  

After our friends left, Mr. TOF burned off the rest of his sugar high by running around the house and all around the front yard as fast as he could, while I counted how many seconds it took to get from here to there.  He also kicked around his new soccer ball from grandma.  

We spent the evening at an important meeting at church, but as soon as we got home, I cooked a late supper.  When I asked Mr. TOF what he wanted to eat for lunch on his birthday he yelled, “Pancakes!” When I asked him what he wanted for supper, he yelled, “Pancakes!”  I inquired about whether he was confused, but it turns out that pancakes really are his favorite food, and he really wanted to eat pancakes for lunch and supper.  Why not?  We had Swedish Pancakes and peaches for lunch, and multigrain pancakes and berry smoothies (with a bunch of kale) for supper. The birthday boy got syrup both times.   Everyone was happy.
Over and over Mr. TOF told me what a great birthday he was having and how excited he was to celebrate.  I loved that, because the day was special without being overwhelming, and I loved that he appreciated all of the little special things we did.  We didn’t need to do something astounding to make the day great.  It just was great.  It’s all in the attitude.