Where did the time go?

Not so very long ago...

... and then we had to show him off to everyone:

...and a great big crowd came to our tiny apartment to welcome him:
... and all of our siblings became aunts and uncles and our parents became GRANDparents for the very first time!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WILL!
Today he turned 4 years old! So yesterday we had a birthday party for him.

• When I asked Will what kind of cake he wanted, he promptly said: "an airplane cake!"
• I baked a round cake
• Nate proceeded to draw and cut out from paper how he would use EVERY piece of that round cake to make an airplane shape.
• I was a little disappointed that I wouldn't get to nibble the extra bits, but very impressed that my man could manage this (you can see the little paper circle he used to brainstorm the idea on the bottom left corner of the picture)

The kids were so excited to watch us decorate the cake.

Then our friend Beth came over to our house, helped with the last-minute decorations, and ran a bunch of games with the other 3 and 4 year-olds who came to celebrate with Will.

There's the cake, all finished and lit up.

It was a beautiful afternoon and the monkeys left us alone for once, so the kids could eat and play in the yard. Presents!

More games:

(Thanks Beth and Dave for all the fun games!)

It was a very happy birthday party.

The next morning we woke Will up with traditional singing and candles and cake:

This 4-year-old wanted to cut his own cake by himself:

Now they know how to show how old they are on their fingers:

We had a wonderful birthday celebration.

Happy Birthday, Will! May Jesus Bless You!