Lincoln is FOUR!

11/13/11 Linc turned four years old and we had a little family celebration and opened our gifts to him, and then a "real" party later.  By way of documentation here were his stats from his 4 year doctor's checkup:  40.31 inches (51st %), 40 lbs 2 oz (82nd %)

First...the family celebration on his actual birthday.  As is obvious, his complete obsession with Toy Story (particularly Buzz) was still in full force:

I don't know if I can recall ever seeing a child show so much joy at being sung to.  Lincoln was simply overwhelmed with happiness at all the personal attention that he was getting and it showed.  I love this boy so much!...

 

I'm not totally sure if he liked it - what do you think?...

A video clip of him after opening his new sheets (you never know if a kid will be excited about sheets)...

Opening the gift from Noah:

He was a little bit bewildered by this gift at first:

Lincoln with his gifts.  One happy little boy.

And a picture of Max (not quite 5 months) just because.

And now on to his "real" birthday party.  We held his birthday party on the 19th at My Gym.  We figured that having it somewhere that he could run, be loud, and get out some energy would be ideal for our little guy - and that ended up being just right.

Here is the birthday boy by his cake upon arriving at the party!

A girl named Melissa did the cake (which was awesome)!  Linc loved it!  Check her out here!

Mom & Dad with the birthday boy!

Birthday guests arrived and we started with some free-play at the gym!

Audrey

Ezra

Even baby Max!

 Noah and cousin Audrey had fun playing together...

Max showing off his dimple!

Then the party hosts at the gym took over with some activities with a "space ranger twist" for the kids (which they loved).  They started with some pretend play...

Then some bubbles...

A little more free play time...

Time for blast off on the "rocket"...

The pinata (one of Lincoln's only requests for the party was a Buzz pinata)...

It was a pull string pinata...

Showing off their pinata loot...

Max still being his sweet self...

Linc taking his turn on the zipline!

Then they gathered all the kids together to present the birthday boy.  The blasted some music and brought him out on a sled.  He loved it, but it cracked me up because he had gotten into the pinata candy already and was sucking on a sucker looking like this kind of thing happens every day as she whizzed him around on that sled...

All the birthday kids

You can tell (again) that Lincoln loved being sung to...but having had a "dry run" on his actual birthday he was a tiny bit more nonchalant.  I love how he just takes a quick pause from his juice box to blow out his candle and goes right back to drinking...

Blowing out his candle...

My happy birthday boy:

I had the cake made green (upon Lincoln's request) with purple frosting.  It turned out so cute!

Now for some pictures of the kids eating that yummy cake!...

Gabe

Madison

Isaac

Harrison (I love his expression as he's about to eat his cake!)

Lincoln

Jack & Noah

Noah & Audrey

Audrey (and aren't these party hats cute too?)

Maya & Dani

Grace

One quick clip of Lincoln opening a gift.  Note the funny situation as the gym employee can't get the ribbon off...Noah comes to the rescue with the obvious suggestion.  Pretty funny...

After presents the kids each grabbed some finger lasers, space candy (pop rocks), and stickers...

Noah with some finger lasers...

My parents with Lincoln.

Mark's parents with Lincoln.

Our family.

And that's a wrap!  We love you so much Lincoln!  You are such a wonderful part of our family.  We love all the energy, enthusiasm, affection, and thoughtfulness that you bring to our family!  Happy fourth birthday, little buddy.