Celebrating 5!

Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that I was blogging about Mathew's 4th birthday?? It just doesn't make sense to me that he's already 5. I must be losing my mind. Every year seems to go by faster. Anyway... whether I want to believe it or not, Mathew did indeed turn 5 just a few short days ago, and I suppose I need to just accept it. However, let's not talk about how I'm having to fill out paperwork for him to start Kindergarten this year, because I just can't talk about that one without crying yet.

Mathew's birthday most fortunately fell on one of the rare days Brandon was home to enjoy it with us. We didn't plan any raging parties and instead opted to simply take him to breakfast at IHOP, which to him is as good as any dumb ol' birthday party (or I'd like to pretend that's the case so I don't feel like a bad parent.) After spending an undisclosed, yet ridiculously large amount of money on breakfast (eating out is getting WAY too expensive), we decided that we would save the remainder of his birthday fun for the following Saturday, and go home for a nice, long nap. However, just because I'm not big into throwing parties, doesn't mean that other people are as lame as I am. Lucky for Mathew, his birthday buddy, Jared - who was born on the exact same day - has some pretty freakin' awesome parents who are willing to go all out and rent Bouncin' Off the Walls for their son's 5th birthday enjoyment. So, you see, it was easy to convince Mathew that this fabulous party was for his own birthday as much as Jared's. I probably owe his parents some money...
The following pictures are proof that he did indeed have a little fun on his birthday.

Here's Mathew with his awesome birthday buddy, Jared. I love this picture. Don't ask me what Mathew's doing... who knows? My guess is that he's bustin' a move. Go Mathew! It's your birthday!



More picture fun...



Unfortunately, I was not as lucky as Brandon and did not have Mathew's birthday off work. So we had to rush from the party early (before cake, ice cream, or presents were enjoyed) pick up Mathew's favorite for dinner - HAMBURGERS - and I enjoyed my solitary burger on the way to work while the kids enjoyed the remainder of Mathew's birthday alone with Daddy. But never fear! Cake, ice cream, and presents will be enjoyed!

Saturday was our day of celebration for Mathew. We took Mathew out for lunch, and were almost nice enough to let him choose the place. Almost. Mathew announced that he wanted to eat at McDonald's, and then that plan went out the window. So instead, we all went to Chili's and Mathew ENJOYED IT, whether he wanted to or not!



After lunch, we piled into an overcrowded and noisy theater to watch Monsters vs Aliens with all the other people who wanted to seek fun out of the snow... yes, snow. It is April... right? Just making sure. Anyway, Mathew fully enjoyed his popcorn and Root Beer, and later declared the movie as "SILLY". That's his review, take it or leave it. We then headed to Toys R Us, where Mathew picked out the coolest race track he could find - within the $20-$30 range, that is.



Pretty cool, eh? He thinks so anyway, and that's all that matters. I must shamefully admit that my lack of cool birthday party-ish abilities also extend to birthday cakes. "Baker" isn't exactly listed on my domestic resume, so we also headed over to Harmons and let Mathew choose among the many awesome cakes which one would commemorate his 5th birthday. Want to see his choice??



Yes, that's right!! Mathew passed up awesome cakes of Spiderman, Diego, and Thomas for this very cake. Why, you ask? Because all he wanted was a chocolate cake. *sniff...sniff* I've never been so proud. He really is my boy.

So maybe it was low-key and not very exciting; but if you ask Mathew, he had a super-cool birthday, and I'm grateful that my son is perfectly happy with the plans his unmotivated parents mustered up. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATHEW!!