1/2 A Decade

 What a busy day Gavin had turning 5!  From sunup to sundown our day was packed celebrating all that is Gavin.

Gavin was very excited to pick out the cupcakes for all his friends.  He even passed around some rubber comic book bracelets with "kaboom" and "shazam" to mark his 5 year milestone. His preschool buddies enjoyed the Costco-sized cupcakes!

In the afternoon we went to their favorite: Chuck E. Cheese.  Harrison was thrilled because Gavin's birthday happened to be the same day his cast came off, leaving him with a much more user-friendly brace.  After a month of watching others he was finally able to play his beloved basketball. 

No matter how happy I made my face look Cannon was completely unconvinced that these rides were fun.  I must admit, with a gulp of guilt, I'm not nearly as active with taking Cannon places as I was with the older boys.  I think it's the combination of Harrison starting school, me working full-time, and Cannon tipping the scales into the ohmygoshhowcanimanageallthis that's caused us to stay home more. 

He did warm up to the rides a little bit.  He especially enjoyed the ones we could all ride on together. 

With our tokens spent we left Chuck E. Cheese and headed over to Grammy and Pop-pop's for dinner.  Grammy so kindly volunteered to make Gavin's birthday cake--a Batman birthday cake, no less.  Oh, how well she knows little G. 

Back home Gavin opened some pretty cool presents, like this Spider Man web shooter from his Godmother, Sarah.  Our backyard was covered in Spidey's webs. 

The only thing Harrison and Gavin remember from G's fourth birthday were the balloon ninja's.  Harrison begged for them to make a reappearance.  Don't remember the balloon ninjas?  They are vicious balloons with scary faces drawn with a Sharpie that are just begging for boys to attack! After the web shooting and subsequent clothes stripping from the 'web victim,' I told the boys the balloon ninja's had shown up and were ready for action! 

The boys 'beat up' the ninja balloons with such ferociousness!  Pay no attention to the awkward look Harrison is continuing to sport here.  Seems most people would be a little uncomfortable in just tighty-whities and shoes, but not my boy.  He's too busy fighting ninjas to fuss with appearances.  This would be a striking difference between brothers--Gavin wouldn't be caught dead looking less then (what he thinks) his best.

Cannon enjoyed sitting back and watching the 'show' but I did manage to spare one balloon for him to try and slay.  However, all the balloon bouncing in the world wasn't working.  Thank goodness for his, now a little older, brother who was able to come along and help Cannon. 

And, more about that older brother, Gavin.  It being his birthday and all.  Gavin's birthday morning started off with me sharing the now annual story of his birth.  If there is one perk of having a C-section it's that I get to skip the uncomfortable "how was I born" question and get straight to the fun stuff. Don't judge me.  Fun stuff like telling Gavin how even at birth he liked to snuggle.  Snuggling continues to be one of G's favorite things to do.  In addition to lots of affection, Gavin also fills our home with laughter and drama.  He is never short of a story, although often they are elaborate lies with incredible detail.  When asked if he's being honest he always replies, "I'm tellin' the trufe! I'm not lyin'!!" And although he's always entertaining, he's almost always not 'tellin' the trufe'!  What is the 'trufe' is how much color and happiness he adds to our family.

A small note: all these pictures were taken on the same day, Gavin's birthday, as I was putting this post together I realized he had FOUR outfit changes!