Chase is FOUR!!!

Our Chase Max was born 4 years ago today... hard to believe!! When I think back to the first time I saw his sweet little face, it really does seem like it was just yesterday. And yet, here is this 4 year old boy running around in my house now... asking me to play another game with him, getting dressed all by himself, and wanting to give me "just one more hug!" before bedtime! He is so sweet and loving, and so incredibly smart and curious about everything. I love spending every day with him and I have to admit that I'm kind of sad about him starting "VPK" (voluntary pre-kindergarten) next fall. In fact, I'm trying to get him into a 3-day a week program instead of the typical 5-day program since I just love having him around so much!

We celebrated his birthday this past Saturday with a big party at "Pump it Up!" It's an indoor bounce house place... with 2 huge rooms filled with slides and other bouncy things. We had been to a couple of parties there and Chase was set on having his party there too, which was fine with me since we've always had it at home and this year I just wasn't up for all of the hosting responsibilities! He chose "Toy Story 3" as his theme and even picked out a shirt at Target that he wanted to wear to the party. Mimi, Papa, and cousin Abbie came to visit for the weekend, to celebrate Chase's birthday and to help with the party (and lots of other things)!

I think the party was a huge success, based on the big smile on Chase's face all day... and the fact that he wanted to go back there today, on his actual birthday! :)

Okay, I think Eric, Mimi, Papa, and Siena enjoyed the party too!! :)




Chase and his friends:
We had a cookie cake (Chase's favorite), cupcakes, and sugar cookies:



Chase loved having his cousin Abbie there!

We ate at Akropolis afterwards:

Opening presents at home that night (with blue lips from a Dum Dum he had a few minutes before)!
Reading books with Mimi and Papa:

Chase, today, on his "real" birthday... fielding phone calls from family! :)

He was shocked to see his gift from us: a new bike!!

It's a little big, but he's growing fast!!!