My favorite 4 year old

 Happy Birthday Austin!

We just got back from our trip to Utah and Austin and I had one day to pull off his first friend birthday party.  He wanted to help with everything....

 and I mean everything...

 We got all the favors made, the games planned, and picked up a few items from the store.

 Jared decorated the cake, he's way better at that stuff than me.  I thought it turned out pretty cool.

I stayed up way too late finishing up the details and decorating, but it was all worth it when Austin woke up smiling from ear to ear.  His meal requests for his birthday were waffles with candy in them for breakfast.  Macaroni and Cheese for lunch, and chocolate for dinner.  I did sneak a few m&m's in his waffles this morning, but I'm not sure dinner will be chocolate.  Maybe dessert.

 

 A few presents to start off the morning...

 We planned a construction themed party so I decorated inside and out with caution tape.  Before I decorated the tree or hung the balloons, I was taping off my garage door and my sweet neighbor from across the street came out to see if everything was ok.

Austin could hardly wait for his friends to arrive.

 They played with play dough,

 

...played some games,

 ...and sang happy birthday.

He blew with so much gusto I thought his eyes might pop out!

Check out all those presents

 The kids had so much fun playing in the backyard while they waited for their parents to come.

Jared has to work late tonight so he spent the morning helping out with the party and the three of us went to lunch together.  Austin was pretty wiggly and silly from all of the sugar, but he was still all smiles and I hope he knows how much we adore him.  He is such a sweetheart and being the youngest by 4 years, I really get him all to myself during the days.  He tags along with me running errands, having lunch with my friends (which he assumes are his friends), doing visiting teaching, or whatever else I have going on and he never complains.  

I sure love this little guy!