Boston Turns 4

It's still hard for me to embrace that I have a 4 year old. I've watched his birth video at least 3 times over the past couple days. We loved him instantly. We loved him before he was born. We would track his little heel swirling across my big belly. I'll never forget the smile on JT's face when we found out we were having a boy.

Celebrations started early this year. Wait.. who am I fooling.. we always make birthdays strech to capacity.. singing and giving and celebrating for nearly a week! It began Wednesday night as I prepped the house with banners and tissue pom poms. Boston awoke the next morning and immediately thought it was his birthday. He was so excited and we worked all day filling water balloons, baking cupcakes, fussing over the back yard and the perfect spot for the slip 'n slide.
His little friends poured in at 4pm. I was nervous his napless nervous spirit would reject the whole thing; but he welcomed them with open arms! He is so anxious about water, so it felt quite silly to be throwing him a water party. To my pleasant surprise though he warmed right up to the sprinkler under the tramp, the slip n' slide, water balloons, and even asked to take a dip in our hot tub that we transformed into a kiddie pool. He was beyond excited to beat the heck out of his Spiderman pinata and open his presents. He did keep true to himself though by proclaiming "ok.. it's time to go home friends!" after the wrapping paper was shredded. But he hung in there as we popped popcorn, ate cupcakes, and failed to make balloon animals.
An hour later family arrived, bearing more generous gifts. We dined on pizza, garlic bread, and salad (Boston's favorite meal) and we gloated as he climbed on the table to blow out his 4 candles a top his Spiderman cake.
As family trinkled out we began packing for the next days trip to Sunny St. George. Leaving behind frosting on the counters, pizza boxes piled and streamers still flying high. We celebrated again. More cake, more gifts, more "Happy Birthday" and good food. He was so spoiled.
I love his birthday. I love telling him that the fireworks are for him and I loved how he told me "The fireworks make me so happy!" "This one is for you Dad.. does is make you happy?" "This one is for you Mom.. let me see your happy face!" It was priceless. He was so confused as to what day was actually his birthday that when the 4th finally arrived he was at the point of telling me "no Mom I had my birthday last week!"
We had so much fun in St. George just being with family. St. George feels like home and I hope we get there someday. I delight in watching the special bond that Boston and my nephew Jack have. ( They laughed themselves silly in the car and at the grocery store yelling out potty/boy humor!) I love seeing Jocey draped over my Dad's shoulder half the time. Yes, there is no place like home. But, as we arrived back to the place that we call home, left over mess and all, I took peace in that too. I am trying to find peace and happiness in each stage of our lives. Because as the Darrius Rucker song says "it won't be like this for long."
I am grateful to live in this country. I'm grateful to live in this state and to live a life where we have a roof over our heads and bountiful food on the table and where we can go all out in celebrating life. Everything changed July 4th 2006 at 8:43 pm and I am so glad it did. We love you Boston.