Happy Birthday, Eyasu!

So, the other day I went about our routine as usual: pick up Victoria and Eyasu from the Primary School first, then head over the Upper/Lower Elementary schools for our oldest three... Things seemed just like any other day when we pulled out of the car rider line to head to the next school. However, at a stop light I looked back and noticed a subtle change... ha ha ha....

Friday, we decided to go ahead and celebrate Eyasu's birthday (actually next Tuesday) with some friends... Off to pick up a special cake with "machina's" on it (Mah-kee-nah)...

We had the presents wrapped, placed in the dining room out of sight... then spent the afternoon doing a few arts and crafts, as well as few projects... I was relaxing on the porch when Jana came out to make me a purse from notebook paper. In the midst of cutting, taping and coloring, she turned to look at me and said, "Mama, you are the best mom in the whole world!" It was one of those moments that I've treasured up in my heart...

I pulled out some Dollar Store paints with picture for the girls to enjoy on the shaded deck...

Tony decided to wash our van (much needed inside and out - ha!)... Eyasu was in charge of the water hose... not sure how much he helped! :-)

The big boys scrubbed... then all three took it to be vacuumed... Again, while James and Papa worked, Eyasu enjoyed operating the machine that needed the quarters...

Jana had to draw a sweet note for Papa... I love the children's renderings of their papa, ha...

And THEN it was time... to unveil... the birthday celebration... the first ever... for our sweet, new addition... do you think he 'ate it up' or what?!. (Thanks, Darla, for the clown nose and glasses... he has been wearing them around the house saying, "Sunglasses." Ha!)

On another note, I made a scheduling mistake... James' good friend had his birthday celebration at the same time just around the corner... this celebration included friends he doesn't see anymore because we retained him in 4th grade while they all moved ahead... he was torn between the two, and since we will celebrate as a full unit on Eyasu's actual birthday Tuesday evening, he chose to be with friends... so, don't be alarmed at not seeing James in these pictures... Earlier, James went and found something of his own prized toy collection... wrapped it up as a gift for his little brother... it was so sweet... Anyways....

When Eyasu realized it was a party in his honor noticing the pile of presents with his name on it, his eyes got huge in joyful anticipation...

Thanks Mamaw & Papaw for the teddy bear ("baby" as he calls it) & CD player!

Thanks "Babushka"/Grandma & "Dedushka"/PopPop for the toy car, nerf football & wrist watch!

While the big kids enjoyed the unveiling of the gifts, the little kids had some excitement of their own... Matroyshka dolls!

Happy Birthday, Eyasu! We love you very much!!!

Click on the picture below or here to view the video of singing Happy Birthday...