Malcom's 4th Birthday!

Here we are again, another birthday for that little boy who I swear was just born yesterday. We didn't have a big themed birthday party this year for the boys, but opted instead for individual small parties (ie. just family). I don't think Malcom missed having a big party, he was grinning all day anyway. I sure love that boy!



Friday night, after he had gone to bed, I covered his bedroom door in streamers that he had to break through the next morning. I wasn't fully awake when he got up, but I did hear some confused and amused exclamations coming from his side of the hallway. He ran into our room afterward and shook Ben awake, saying, "Daddy! There are ribbons on my door!!!!"



I (with the help of a good friend who was visiting) had also made a bunch of little paper party hats and taped them onto random toys throughout the house, which was a big hit (and the hats managed to stay on way longer than I would have expected).

He got to choose all of his meals for that day as well (SUGAR!!! ahhhh! Oh well, you only turn 4 once!). Our ward primary had an ice cream social that day, which Malcom conveniently thought was all for him. Haha. We were late getting to it, but we had a great time there as well.




After the ice cream social, I snuck back to the house before Ben and the kids got home. A few old friends, Becky Jenks and Rachel Cook (who we lovingly call "Cookie") were visiting, as well as Ben's brother Luke (who had just gotten out of army reserve training the night before) were there, and we all decorated the dining room with balloons, a happy birthday sign, got the cupcakes ready, and piled the presents up. Becky volunteered to put up some glow-in-the-dark astronauts and aliens on their ceiling- which would be the last surprise of the day.

Malcom was so surprised when he got home!

There wasn't much time wasted getting the candles lit and the Happy Birthday song sung.


(Malcom picked out the cupcakes at Sam's Club the day before, as I knew I was going to be too tired to bake anything for him. I thought it was funny that he managed to choose the only box of cupcakes that had nothing to do with birthdays.)

Presents were opened! Everyone was happy (but especially Malcom and by default, Calvin- since he got to play with all the new toys too.)

Calvin trying to figure out how the party-blower-thing works.

Mr. Dinosaur joined the party too!

Handsome boys/man. :) 

This is Malcom realizing what his present is: a tool box! 

Opening gifts is hard work!

Ben always has to check out the new toys too. I love that I married a big kid. :)

After our little party, we headed to Home Depot so that he could pick out a few tools for his new tool box.  I don't know if there's ever been a happier little boy!  We were all pretty tired by the time we left the store.

Malcom made his own toolbelt. Haha! 

Malcom and his proud Papa, all tuckered out. 

At home, we played a little more, then headed up to bed. After brushing teeth, reading books and scriptures, singing Happy Birthday a few more times, and then prayer, the kids were tucked in and the lights went off.

"That's aMAZEing!!" Malcom exclaimed it over and over as he repeatedly asked for us to turn the light on and off, while staring at the glowing spacemen over his bed.

I don't know if it was the glow-in-the-dark astronauts and aliens or that they were just completely tuckered out, but both Calvin and Malcom didn't fuss once after we put them to bed the first time.

Happy little boys. Mission accomplished.