3... 2... 1... Blast Off

To Ben's 4th Birthday!  We celebrated big for Ben's birthday this year and had a rocket birthday party here at the house.  He was very excited to invite his friends from school over to his house.  So excited that he actually invited all his friends and their dogs too.  Luckily no one actually brought their dog with them but we did have a house full of friends.  It was a bit of a mad house and I can definitely see why people go to the rule of inviting one friend for each year of your life.  I may have to institute that rule for McKenzie's birthday this year.  Since Ben's actual birthday was on a Saturday we decided to have his party that day and not draw it out over two weekends so he celebrated all day on his birthday and was one tired boy at the end of the day.

We started his big day the usual way with presents, decorations and cake ready and waiting on the table when he came downstairs.  It never fails to thrill them to see things set out just for them.

Here's Ben enjoying his birthday breakfast of pancakes on my new "You Are Special Today" plate that I got for Christmas.  Growing up my Mom had one of these plates and I just loved using on my special days.  

For the party we decorated in hanging plants and rockets and had a rocket cupcake tower.  Matt, won Dad of the year award, for making twenty jet packs for the kids to zoom around in.  Here's Ben's best friend Rein blasting around the house wearing his jet pack.

Our birthday boy, ready to blow out his candles and make a wish.

A complication of the party to show off all our rocket shaped fun.  The kids and I made a giant rocket ship out of cardboard and then painted it.  We had it setup as a beanbag toss game and then the kids could get their picture taken peaking out of the rocket porthole.  We played Pin The Engine on the Rocket and had lots of yummy space snacks to enjoy.

Such a fun day, Ben is so lucky to have so many great friends and family to come help him celebrate his birthday.  He is just the sweetest boy and told Matt and me thank you over and over for the birthday party.  He melts our hearts on a daily basis.  We are so proud he's our son.