Steven, Sammy and Amaya are FOUR! I don’t know how it’s possible that we already have 3 four year olds. They’re such special people. It’s amazing to get to be their mom.

Amaya will smile for m&ms. 🙂

For the big birthday celebration, Nana, Papa, Savta, Aunt Sara, Charlie and Uncle Austin all came to spend the weekend. Charlie was able to join Nana for school drop-off on Friday morning. Sara got this picture of everyone showing off their new squishies.

It’s a big deal to turn FOUR in Miss Eugenia and Miss Faith’s class.

At Shabbat at school, everyone came to celebrate with the kids. In addition to the regular service, SSA got to go up front for Happy Birthday songs. One boy said, “Three kids are all four today? That’s crazy!”

Sister-Cousins. ♥

Sammy loves his Savta so much.

 

Charlie got to go up with her little cousins for Happy Birthday time.

Birthday’s got started early on Friday evening. There’s been a pile of gifts sitting in the library for a week and I think Steven, Sammy and Amaya were ready to get started. I’m impressed with their patience, to be honest! Steven was thrilled to get an R2-D2 plush from Auntie and Dod Shuki. All week he kept picking up one gift saying, “I think this is my R2-D2.” 🙂

SSA also got gifts from Charlie! She picked out Elsa, Anna and Olaf books and rings to give the kids. So sweet.

And the next thing we knew it was Saturday and Steven, Sammy and Amaya were FOUR! They’re still waking up way too early and I heard them a little before 6:30am. I saw Steven first and when I said “happy birthday” I got the biggest, longest hug from my boy.

Here were the cakes for the day! Amaya and Sammy were clear about their cupcakes, especially Amaya who wanted white frosting and colored sprinkles. Sammy picked police officers for his decor and Amaya asked for ballerinas. Steven does not have a taste for cake or ice cream and really wanted a “fruit cake”. I was happy to deliver! As a bonus, they had one with Olaf! It’s so cool to see their unique personalities and tastes.

It was a lazy birthday morning as we tried to stay quiet and avoid waking the whole house. These kids will never say not to lazy tv mornings!

We opened a few gifts including digital cameras from Savta! The boys, in particular, loooooove them.

There were even morning m&ms. It’s a big deal to turn four! This picture was actually Nana’s effort to get a photo for me of Sammy in his Anna shirt. I had this made for him because Amaya had an Elsa shirt and Steven had a Captain America shirt – all very important for their big birthday party.

Becaaaaaaause… our big birthday celebration included Anna, Elsa and Captain America!

I could tear up just writing about this. It was magical – as much for the adults, I think, as it was for the kids. The performers were fantastic. They were totally engaged and in character the entire time. (And the woman who played Anna is a triplet! Two girls and a boy. I met them out at the car and she was so excited to tell me she’s a triplet too and how excited she was to entertain at our party!)

The performers knew who they were there to see (Anna for Sammy, Elsa for Amaya and Captain America for Steven) and they were by each kids’ side the entire time. There was a grand entrance followed by games, songs, balloons and superhero training. Seeing Steven, Sammy and Amaya get into it was incredible. This was the perfect age for a birthday party like this.

We had a photographer come to get some quality shots of the interactions and I’m so glad we did. I can’t wait to see them!

I could just stare at this picture of Steven and Cap for hours. He was in his Captain America shirt when the performers first arrived and very quickly shared that he has a Captain America uniform, too. He was so excited to change into it and said, “Hurry Mommy! Captain America is going to be so excited to see me!”

This was during superhero training. Anna and Elsa were great about helping Amaya and Sammy participate. They were great about everything, really. Elsa remembered to tell Amaya about how they first met in Texas and Anna thanked Sammy for the card he mailed to her.

Amaya was so in her element. She looooooooved talking to Elsa.

Everyone got special gifts from their new friends. After gifts from Anna and Elsa, Sammy turned to Cap and asked, “What did you bring for us?” in his sweet little four year old voice. The gift, by the way, is a Captain America shield necklace that Steven is guarding for the family. He’ll tell you that we can all touch the shield but only he and Captain America can touch the chain.

Steven had a few cases of nerves early on and needed reassuring hugs from his mommy. It was so emotional. The entire experience was so emotional.

But you can see, all Steven needed was a chance at Cap’s shield to get right back in the swing of things.

Here are a few photos of Jason and I (and Aunt Sara) watching the happenings. It was amazing.

Some videos!

You can kind of see Amaya singing along here. (And, yes, Steven could have joined in but he was happy with his lollipop and standing by Captain America’s side.)

Happy birthday!! Honestly, if you’re only going to watch one of the happy birthday song videos watch Sammy’s. His little face is so sweet here.

And that was their party! Besides the gang in from NY and Pittsburgh we had Grandma Sunshine, Aunt Annette, Megan, Mikey and Taco join us! It really was the BEST.

Once the performers left it was time for food and more presents! And then, of course, time to play with the presents.

New puzzles and gardens from May May, Mikey and Taco!

My first board game with one of the kids! Sammy managed to beat me at Chutes & Ladders fair & square.

Steven and this hat. <3 It’s a gift from Aunt Annette and he’s just so cute in it.

Lots of lego sets to build thanks to Aunt Sara & Uncle Dave!

SSA’s big day ended with dinner out.

Sammy wanted to be sure to sit with everyone at the table.

It was a lazy Sunday that started when Steven work up at 4:30am. BRUTAL. And he didn’t nap either so, rest assured, he was a hot mess by bedtime. And asleep in about thirty seconds.

We went to Applebees where I had to take this picture of Amaya eating a cord dog slathered with vanilla yogurt. Sara’s face says it all.

We had time to play in the afternoon and then it was the time for goodbyes – which I hate! And Amaya hates, too! We were sad buddies together.

Steven, the doctor-astronaut.

Amaya and Charlie playing together.

Big goodbyes!

This was packed but I have just a few more updates from earlier in the week. FIRST, on Monday morning Amaya got sick when we got to school. I pretty much spiraled into a panic about the rest of the week and sickness and canceled parties. It turned out Amaya was only sick that one time but it was enough to totally stress me out. So much so, that I pretty much made myself sick on Wednesday night. Or I was sick, too. Who knows. (Sammy got sick on Wednesday morning, too, but – like Amaya – it was just one time. I don’t know what was going on! Doesn’t matter anymore because everyone was fine by Thursday and we had our party!)

I think Amaya looks so old here. I feel like I can see 15 year old Amaya in this photo.

And now she’s a happy girl!

Here’s a quick progression of Sammy’s eye which is almost totally healed.

Holding each other in dance class. <3

All week, these three were lined up read for the “real” deals to arrive.

And finally, me! Four years ago! I still can’t believe it. What an amazing, wild, incredible ride we’re on.

Have a great week!