Studs' bday

With Disney World being less than 2 months away, we decided to have a small, family party for Studs this year. After attending Sissy's first soccer game the morning of his birthday, Studs came home to find Disney on Ice: Toy Story tickets as a surprise afternoon treat. Grandma had Sissy and Mommy needed to stay home to prep for the party, so Daddy and Studs spent the afternoon together.


Now, Studs is very particular about some things and when he makes his mind up about some things he never forgets it. So, when he said a few weeks ago "I want a PUPPY MONEY cake for my birthday" I knew that I had to get on it. And everyday for the past several weeks he has been asking for his cake. Now, he has a particular puppy he sleeps with that he wanted it to look like. And the money thing? I have no idea.

I spent the night before his birthday baking homeade vanilla and chocolate cakes and vanilla sour cream and chocolate cream cheese icings. It took forever. And then the next day as soon as Daddy and Studs left, I began the horrendous task of decorating- something I did not enjoy at all.

And this was the result! Not too shabby, but after many, many hours of work I was seriously regretting my decision to do it myself. The color theme for the party became brown, white, and red as an ode to the cake and the balloons and everything followed suit.


When Studs got home from Toy Story we did a little photo shoot with him.










Then our family began to arrive and we ate Studs' fave pizza.

Who needs presents? He was pretty happy just using the pizza box as a giant canvas.










He was very impressed with the cake and I was very relieved that he liked it- and thought it looked like his puppy! Notice the money on the sides? Just what he ordered- a "puppy money" cake.

And this picture made everything sooo worth it!




I love my little, happy guy! He had a great birthday and is excited to be one step closer to kindergarten. If you ask how old he is he will say, "well, next I'm going to turn 5 so I can go to kindergarten like Sissy".

His school, by the way, is going amazingly. He ADORES his teachers and begs to go. And he has the best.teachers.ever. for a kid like him. They've both known him a long time and just think he is the funniest. His orneriness doesn't bother them one bit! I have gotten nothing but glowing reviews for him including one teacher saying, "my favorite thing about T is how bright eyed and ready for anything he is". And it's true! He's a happy little guy and we wouldn't change him for anything in the world!

Studs

My "baby" is four today and as every mother does I can't believe that he is this old and where did the time go?

I am taking his birthday as an opportunity to quit calling him "Big Boy" on my blog. Although he is a big boy now, his nickname around our house (mainly with his daddy) is Studs. On the second day of school his teacher told me that she asked him if he minds if she calls him 'Tator' and he said, "no, but everybody just calls me Studs."

Studs is a lively addition anywhere he goes. He is very loud, he has a booming voice, and always has something to say. He makes us laugh constantly with the things he says. He uses the words "well", "tasty", "you gotta be kidding me", "perfect/pu-fect", and "I gotta tell you..." the most these days. And he still pronounces a lot of words wrong which makes his phrases pretty hilarious.

He misses his sister like crazy while she is at school. But Studs has his own crazy schedule going on these days- he has school 3 days a week and he also goes to Kid's Day Out on another day. If he's not in school or KDO he either is running errands with mommy or napping at home. His newest addition to his life are bunk beds, which he loves. I struggle with it because he sleeps on the top and I can't get in bed and cuddle with him! But he's always willing to cuddle me on the couch if I need it, thankfully.

I asked Studs some questions to document where he is at this point in his life.

Favorite food: um, peanut butter and jelly

Favorite movie: um, Toy Story, well it has Buzz

Favorite TV show: I just like Toy Story. And kind of Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Well, I don't. I need to think about it.

Favorite toy: Buzz Lightyear, well he has a lot of things to do on him.

Favorite holiday: Halloween! I'm going to be a ghost.

Favorite thing to do at school: After we eat snack we do show and tell.

Favorite sister: Lily.

Favorite color: Red.

Favorite book: (puts finger to mouth) hmmm. I don't know! You need to think about that Mommy. Oh yeah, I know a favorite book. Toy Story. And I like my Cars finding book.

Favorite place to go: To the mountains. And go to the north pole with cold thing there that I put my mouth on.

Favorite place to eat: Jason's Deli, well, it's yummy pizza.

Favorite dessert: Halloween brownies with the colors on them.

Best friend: Momma.

Funnest thing he did this summer: After we went to the mountains and we drove there a long time. And we went hiking and we will come back there.


Yesterday he celebrated his birthday at school. We made fun dirt cups for him to take! And he has a fun day ahead- we'll head to Sissy's soccer game and then surprise him with tickets to Disney on Ice: Toy Story! And then this evening we'll have all of our family over for his party.


Happy birthday, my love, my Studs!!!