Ian's Birthday Celebrations!

The first thing we did was put up his Avengers Happy Birthday banner on Wednesday morning. On Thursday afternoon we stopped at Dunkin Donuts to buy a dozen donuts for his birthday breakfast on Friday. I had called my parents to find out what kinds they wanted. They planned to arrive on Thursday night, but in light of the snow we got that day, they didn't come. On Friday morning we ate donuts for breakfast with an Avengers tablecloth on the table, and then Ian opened his presents! We gave him 2 Little Critter books, 2 Slug and Bugs cds, 2 Newsboys cds, 2 VeggieTale dvds, a pack of Star Wars underwear, and 2 costumes (Mike from Monster's Inc and Captain America). I put a candle in Ian's donut since he wasn't going to have his birthday cake until Sunday afternoon. Ian was the first to spot Blitz on Friday morning, and Blitz was wearing a birthday outfit that Great Gram gave us last year. Paul took Nadia and Ian shopping for my Christmas gifts while Oliver had his afternoon nap, and then we then headed to Mifflinburg's Christkindl Market..

The kids would have enjoyed the outdoor German Christmas market even more if it had been a little bit warmer out. Ian's favorite part was Hilby the juggler. Paul laughed throughout much of that show. Oliver's favorite part was the live nativity. Every time I said it was time to go, he said "do it again." Nadia's favorite part was the "Elf School" where they made an ornament with Mrs. Claus and received an elf hat. Ian lost one of his moose gloves while watching the marionette show. Ian loved that St. Nicholas gave him some "gold" coins. All three of the kids liked the little toy that the other Santa gave them. Because the kids were cold we didn't stay for the glass blowing demonstration, lantern parade, etc. So after I ate something at home and we used the bathroom, I took the kids to visit the Santa near our grocery store. The kids liked the hardback notebooks he gave each of them - a princess one for Nadia, Spiderman for Ian, and Mickey Mouse for Oliver. Last year Oliver cried, but he didn't this year! When Santa asked Nadia what she wanted for Christmas, she said I want what I asked you for last year (all of Ariel's mermaid sisters). He asked if she wanted anything else, and she said an Elsa stuffed animal (plush).

Yesterday Paul took the kids to Lowe's to make trains at 10am, and then Paul's parents, Paul, Ian, and Nadia went to see Narnia at our church at 2pm. I would have enjoyed seeing it again (Nadia and I went last year), but someone needed to stay home with Oliver. We were looking forward to tasting some Turkish Delight for the first time, but they had sold out of it already (our church did six performances over the past four days). After a quick dinner at home, Paul took the kids to the Community Arts Center in Williamsport for a Frozen sing a long, which cost $1 a person and included free popcorn. Nadia, Ian, and Paul were out and about most of the day, which meant I had the day with Oliver. He and I went on a few errands and also made some Christmas cookies to give to all three kids' Sunday School teachers today. It was his first time decorating cookies, and he did a GREAT job and his attention span for this was longer than his siblings when they were older than he is now! Nadia and Ian did a little decorating at dinner time, but I'll be making a big batch of gingerbread cookies on Wednesday that they can decorate since Oliver and I decorated most of the sugar cookies. I also made some peanut butter blossoms last night for the six plates of cookies we gave away at church this morning.

Ian had asked for pizza for his birthday party so nine of us had pizza and birthday cake after church today. Paul's parents also joined the kids and I at church. The nine included Paul's parents, Aunt Millie, and Uncle Al. Millie made a yummy half vanilla and half chocolate Avengers birthday cake! The television was on during his party because both the Steelers and Giants were playing at 1pm. Both games were aired, and we only own one tv so we were flipping channels, but mostly we were focused on the birthday boy so we weren't actually watching too much of either game. Both our teams won last Sunday and again today! Great Gram wasn't here, but she had sent along a Jake (the pirate) sword, which the kids enjoyed playing with today. Nadia especially likes the compass. Aunt Millie and Uncle Al gave him a BIG storm trooper (a little smaller than Oliver) and a 100 piece Avengers puzzle. Paul's parents gave him a Batman remote controlled robot. I realized on Friday that what he REALLY wanted were Legos. I think he would have traded all the gifts I got him for some Legos (although he has been changing his underwear at least twice a day the last few days because he loves his new Star Wars underwear). I called Paul's mom and said if they had some Legos that they were going to give him for Christmas maybe they could swap the gifts and give him some for his birthday. They came through! He LOVES his new Legos. He was so excited about the gifts he got today that he didn't want to leave the house for our train ride, and he had no trouble leaving the house on Friday after he opened the gifts we gave him, so they definitely hit the mark better than I did this time. I tried!

 This evening we took a ride on the Polar Express. Although Ian was NOT happy about leaving our house (because he just wanted to stay home and play with his new toys that he had opened 3 hours earlier), all three kids did have fun on the train ride. They especially loved meeting all the characters who walked through the train - a gingerbread boy, snowman, Rudolph, Grinch, elves, Santa, etc. They were playing Christmas music during the entire 60 minute train ride and at one point they read the Polar Express book over the loudspeaker. At the end the kids each received a bag of goodies (chips, fruit snacks, muffins, cereal bar, coupons, jingle bell necklace, etc.). Although we don't have big parties for our kids and haven't invited anyone except close family thus far to any birthday party, we do try to plan special events to make a memorable birthday for the child! Some day we'll have some parties, but for now the kids are happy to participate in special events (like Nadia always asks to see a Sight and Sound show and last year we also went to Six Flags on her actual birthday). Also, Friday was a "holiday" for us in terms of not doing any school work. Tomorrow life will go back to normal around here. Our birthday festivities have come to an end. Blitz will shed his birthday garb that he's been wearing the past three days. I took TONS of pictures today; here are a few of the pics from the last three days! More will be shared in the coming days! :)