Happy 4th Birthday, David!

2011-05-26
This is the hinge of the jogging stroller, which snapped in two last Saturday (right before out Jinkle Bell 5K). Sigh. We have no idea how many miles that thing officially logged before it finally bit it, but it was a <i>lot</i>. We're debating whether or not to get a new one or to let David start running his own races now. Is a half marathon too much for a four-year-old, do you think?
David pets Fruitcake before the holiday show a Kinder Care Wednesday night. (Note: Fruitcake is the reindeer)
We told him if he actually <i>sang</i> the song at this year's holiday show, we'd take him out to dinner afterwards. Technically, he <i>did</i> sing, though the choreography was questionable
Dude, it is <i>not</i> that kind of holiday party
Do you see what I see?
Once again, we could not be more proud of his performance. But he <i>was</i> still singing. Mostly
Aaaand he retreated back to the corner, his comfort zone every year for the past three years
Thursday night we went out to the IMA for the Winter Solstice, and we tried to identify some letters in the downstairs hallway. This one was easy (and he coodinated so well!)
Emily needed some reminders about how to cut snowflakes for our lantern at the art-making tent at Solstice. Phil, Jen, Cara, and Lindsay did an awesome job of planning this, and way more people came than we ever expected!
Very excited for an opportunity to use scissors
This is not some homemade explosive device, it's a temperature sensor that now lives conveniently on top of the freezer in the garage. Paul, didn't I tell you if you bought Chris the Arduino board we're opening up a whole new can of nerd worms?
Emily spent some additional garage time making a stained glass cross for a friend
Another friend will be getting a different color
David and Mr Jeff pose with the <i>awesome</i> Spiderman cake Jeff made for Sunday's party. Thanks, Mr Jeff! It was beautiful and delicious!
So, Sunday morning David came in and "found" the box of PVC pipes Chris had cut up (we're high end with the Christmas gifts, let me tell you). So they played and built and constructed. Note: we promise we'll find a better box other than the Sam Adams beer case
Is this not the <i>coolest</i> cake ever?
The key moment of every birthday part: the cake. David has an offsides moment, however, and tried to blow them out before they were all lit
Don't let him fool you, looking all bashful because we're all singing to him
For as much as this kid talks, he only got two candles on the first try
Maxwell helped out on the second effort, while Jake and Lucy looked on
Remember how excited we were about the Jump for Joy bus coming to David's birthday party? Yeah, well, 15 minutes before they were supposed to arrive for an hour-lon program, we got a call that <i> the bus wouldn't start</i>. So we got a "musical show" (<i>in our house</i>) instead. There were some tears on behalf of the birthday boy
David was slightly less enthusiastic about Plan B
<i>Emily</i> was doing the Chicken Dance, too (but behind the camera, conveniently)
They didn't say anything about doing a parachute game in our upstairs office area, but David seemed to perk up when this came out, so go right ahead
Up and under
At this point, we had to turn the celing fan off for fear of shredding the game
This part seemed to work pretty well. Everyone was laughing and playing "popcorn" and all was going well
This is a much more accurate representation of how the afternoon went
Again, not so interested in the group activity
Ms. Karey asked the kids if they had any requests, and Maxwell immediately wanted to hear "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus. What was worse was that Emily could sing along to all the words...and did
Nathan and David have a dance-off, breaking it down. for his 5th birthday, maybe we'll get him a big piece of cardboard and an old school boom box and let him have at it
Now, what he'd <i>really</i> been waiting for all evening...presents. This was not so much a lesson in manners or patience or wrapping paper conservation as it was a big flurry of ribbon and bits and Spiderman and Hot Wheels that lasted all of about six minutes
Psh...Christine reads <i> the directions</i> in the hopes of trying to understand some of the toys (like the Hot Wheels/dinosaur launcher combo)
Next up: Tiptoe Through the Tulips
So, the deal here was that we had three cameras flashing at us at once, and some of us decided to pose a little bit. Suzanne and Christine display their stained glass (a yellow submarine and a tropical fish scene, respectively)
Oh, trust me...it gets better
Riiiicolaaaa!
David was remarkably good at making noise with the PVC pipes (and pipes takes on a new definition here). Jon was very good at this, too--he could actually play real songs!
Nate, on the other hand...well, we gave him points for creativity
Gus did not like this quite as much, especially when it was right in the ear
Do you know how many college degrees are shared between the three of them?
We will never buy them expensive presents again. Plumbing supplies from now on
I can has masters degree and high-paying job now?
I don't know if David understands that you're really not <i>supposed</i> to do this all the time, every time, but whatever makes him happy. And someday we'll explore either woodwinds or brass for marching band
He spent the last hour of his party with the nearly undivided attention of six adults. "Hey guys, watch this!"
Modeling the adorable dinosaur hat from Nate and Suzanne
The candy corn fire glowing on her screensaver just completed the cozy holiday mod
Lindsay wanted it to snow for her birthday on Thursday, so I created a winter wonderland out of <i>her<i> work area. Fake snow, flashy snowflake lights, and a blanket of white all over. And GLITTER</i></i>
Tuesday we celebrated the holidays by doing a "snack exchange". And by "snack exchange", I really mean "self-induced sugar coma and then not doing anything productive for the rest of the afternoon".
Monday we celebrated Tariq's birthday by gift wrapping the strategic portions of his cubicle. Because, you know...working is such a gift