Joshua's Big Birthday Weekend!!

On Joshua's actual birthday, his day started off with a "special" Mickey Mouse pancake.

Happy Birthday to you...

I wanted to paint him a sign for a surprise when he got off the bus from school (great idea Jeanine), but that morning went by so fast that I had very little time. The next thing I knew I was painting and trying to tape up a wet banner (in the wind) all within 10 minutes! I got it done just in time as the bus rolled around the corner. I went out to meet him and what does he say to me???

Joshua: Mom, why do you have that sign up there?!

Good grief.

His big birthday gift was this red pedal car. His friend, Harry has one and Joshua loved riding it. We knew that he really wanted a motorized Jeep/4wheeler/Escalade/anything, but we like that fact that he is getting all of his "4 year old" energy out pedaling around. As you can see, he loved it and it took him less than an hour to learn how to do a spin out in the driveway...tip it over and scrape his elbow. Slapped on a Band-aid and off he went again. Boys will be boys.

On Saturday, we had his birthday party at Rockford lanes. There were nine kids bowling and it was a hit! Even the grown-ups got to have fun. We want to thank everyone who came to celebrate Joshua's 4th! We had a great time!

Watching it go....

Woohoo!

Fun playing outside...

I don't know who is happier when it's nice outside. I used to think it was us (the kids), but now I am realizing that it is the parents.

A quick Easter celebration..

We got to spend a few hours at my parents house on Easter on our way back from Hilton Head. Poor Evan was fighting off an ear infection (which was diagnosed the next day), so Joshua got to find all of the eggs in the yard. The highlight was when Joshua got to drive Bumpa's tractor and take Simon for a ride in the trailer.

Good bye Hilton Head...

Tuesday night after dinner we went for a walk on the beach

Then the boys enjoyed a treat of Oreos and milk

After that was cuddle time with mommy before bed

The next day was spent at the pool

In the morning, we went to Sea Pines and the boys went up 114 stairs to the top of the lighthouse. I stayed down and shopped :) Unfortunately, the nice woman that took our picture didn't know how to zoom in...

This morning was the last day on the beach and the boys went crazy. Evan was still timid about going into the ocean, so TJ and Joshua made him a little mini pool that he could splash around it.

So ends another year at Hilton Head. I can't believe how much a year has changed our plans on what the boys want to do. Joshua was on the go as soon as his feet hit the floor and Evan even tried to keep up with his big brother and skipped a few naps! We are packed up and ready to head back with one stop in Columbus, Ohio for a friend's wedding on Saturday. Then back to Michigan...home sweet home!

Enjoying Hilton Head Island

Just a quick update from Hilton Head Island! The weather is beautiful and each day we have two tired and happy kids...and two tired and happy parents :) Tomorrow we are going to take a trip to Sea Pines and see the lighthouse and a do a little shopping. Can't believe we only have 2 more days. I'm gonna' soak as much sun up as I can!

So darn cute....

My parents got themselves a Wii for Christmas. We played bowling and Joshua had all of us rolling on the floor as we watched him. The crazy part was, that he was getting strikes and picking up spares left and right!

The approach...

...the wind up...

...the release...

...wait for it...
...the victory dance.