Eli’s 5th Birthday Party!

*Warning – picture overload ahead. Proceed at your own risk.* :)

On Saturday we had Eli’s birthday party with our families. We had a soccer theme going on (which worked out great since Party City had their soccer decorations on clearance). And, of course, we had lots of food! Eli suffered through the eating (asking about every 5 minutes if it was time to open presents), and then it was indeed time to open presents!

We put on quite the spread, if I do say so myself.

Eli had already opened some presents on his birthday, but he was ready for more!   He couldn’t wait to tear in to this big stack from Grandma Amanda and Grandpa Terry . . .

First he got the soccer cones that Jon had growing up. You can tell his excitement. :)  We have cheap dollar store cones that blow over with every little breeze, so Eli said, “We already have cones.” But I was excited because these are actual, heavier, nice cones which will work out so much better!

Next box brought Jon’s baseball mitt from when he was younger! Eli was more excited for this one, though the picture still doesn’t quite capture it.

Next came the super-excitement when he spotted the Lego logo under the paper . . .

The fire station!!!

Eli also got super soakers, which he wasn’t quite sure about at first, and then LOVED when it came time to play outside later in the day.

Mommy and Daddy’s last present for Eli brought a smile because he, again, saw the Lego logo.

The kids all had to inspect the police headquarters. This thing is sweet, let me tell you!

Eli’s next present was from Uncle Jeremy, who had shipped it from California the previous week. Eli had been asking to open it every day since then (even before his birthday). So this was a VERY anticipated present. We had Uncle Jeremy on video conference so he could see the opening, and it didn’t disappoint. Eli got a Razor Spark scooter (like Natey and Andrew!) and was beyond excited!!

Dancing on the chair he was so excited!

His last presents of the day came accompanied with a homemade Mario birthday card from Grandma Sherry and Grandpa Bob (Grandma Sherry makes all the cards and they are always so unique, we love it!), which Eli thought was pretty awesome. His expression when he looked at the card was priceless . . .

He got a basketball, and had to go outside for the rest of his gift . . .

He spotted the basketball hoop in the back of Grandpa Bob’s car!!

After present opening it was time to dig in to those Legos.

Then it was time for some fun outside! We blew up the pools and splished the afternoon away!

And then, after dinner, it was time for cake and homemade soft-serve mint ice cream from our soft-serve machine. Eli wanted a Mario soccer cake, and he LOVED the finished product. I did too. :) And, bonus, it was super yummy.

I think this fits the request for a “Mario soccer” cake perfectly!

We found the soccer candles on clearance, and Eli loved them!

Mario is very serious about guarding his goal.

And Luigi is doing some fancy soccer things down at his end.

A top view – Eli saw the candy letters at the store and REALLY wanted those instead of me spelling out happy birthday with icing. There weren’t enough “H”s to spell out Elijah though. :)

Shy birthday boy once the singing started.

Blowing out the candles!

The back ones didn’t want to go out. But Eli got ‘em in the end!

We had a wonderful day celebrating out little guy. At 5 he’s not so little anymore, but he’s still our baby. Happy birthday, Eli! We hope you had a wonderful Mario soccer party! We love you!

What a birthday!

Eli had quite the birthday for a five year old (especially one who’s bigger birthday party is still to come!). The day started out with a celebratory donut for breakfast. I saw my cousin Catherine did this for her son Joshua, and I knew Eli would love it so I stole the idea. :)

Our day began with a celebration donut!

After breakfast Mommy was off to my BSF sharing day and children’s leaders fellowship. So did that mean that Eli had no fun? Nope! Jon took the day off from work to spend the whole day with Eli, while Lori graciously watched Matea so the rest of us could be out and about (thanks, Lori!).

After Jon dropped Matea off, he and Eli headed to the library to pick out some books, then played at the park, the skate park and the baseball fields, and then headed to the Pizza Hut lunch buffet (Eli loves Pizza Hut).

After that off to The Lost City in Holland for 9-hole mini-golf, mini-bowling, skee ball, and other assorted fun.  Jon had a coupon for a buy one get one mini-golf, and then Jon made the shot on the last hole to get a free game, and the Lost City attendee kindly let Eli play another game for free as well.  So they each played two games of mini-golf for the price of just one game.  Sweet!

After the fun indoors, Jon and Eli headed off to Tunnel Park in  Holland to splash in the Lake Michigan water a bit, play at the playground, and run up and down the big sand dune. Jon ran up and down twice, while he told me Eli ran up and down four times (these young munchkins have so much energy).  Here’s the photo at the that Jon took from the overlook at the top of the dune on his cheap cell phone camera – you can’t see it well in the photo, but that’s Lake Michigan in the background.

After that they went looking for ice cream and somehow ended up in downtown Zeeland, which Eli apparently though was awesome since they had banners with big “Z'”s hanging up. One of the first things he told me when he got home was that he went to “Zeeeeee-land!”  (Eli also wanted to know where "E-land,” “L-land,” and “I-land” were!)  Jon and Eli ended up getting $1 flurries at the Byron Center McDonalds.  Then it was time to go back to Matealand.

At night, Grandma and Grandpa, and Uncle Jeff and Aunt Lori, and Noah and Lexi and Tori came over for dinner, cupcakes, and gifts. The highlight was that Eli received Mario Super Sluggers baseball game for the Wii (he played it in Ohio at my brother’s house a few weeks ago and went crazy about it). He also got a new BIG soccer goal and a Lego Air Blaster race car which we built right after breakfast this morning. And since it was his birthday Eli got to stay up super late (10:30) for him and then read lots of stories before bed. What a great birthday!

Dinner time! (and yes, that is a giant princess castle balloon. That’s what he picked, for the second year in a row!)

Ooh! A goal!

What could be inside a cool race car box?!

A race car of course!

I’m putting this progression of photos in because I think they are priceless, and completely catch his excitement over the gift he’s opening. :)

“Oh, dude. Mario!”

Trying to get it open as fast as he can . . .

“Oh yeah, totally sweet!”

Mario Super Sluggers!

Happy Birthday, Elijah!

Well, our baby is five years old! I feel like that is not even possible, yet here it is. Being four brought many new changes for Eli – Matea (and the fact that you have to watch her like a hawk), moving out of my parent’s house (and essentially losing two extra parents to play with you), and school. We’ve had a lot of acting out and adjustment this year, plus potty training issues. I can’t say that “4” was my favorite age. But through it all we have seen so much growth in Eli in school, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.

Eli constantly amazes us with how smart he is, and how quickly he picks up on things. He is beginning to read, loves numbers, and has such a memory! Though he is still shy and more reserved, he has come a long way, and does best one-on-one with other children. He is very generous and plays well with Matea (most of the time). And he is extremely helpful for Mommy, helping me with chores and cleaning, and doing special jobs around the house.

I love that we can hold long conversations, and that Eli has taken on a silly and fun personality. He can make us laugh like no one else! And Eli has a love for playing games which Jon and I share, and makes for a lot of family fun together. Eli also loves soccer, Legos, trains, building things, playing chess, and above all he loves Mario. :)

This year Eli has also really enjoyed BSF, and his favorite teacher, Mrs. Dyke. He absolutely loves her and has amazed us with how he doesn’t miss a thing that his teachers teach him. I ask him about the stories and what he learned on the way home and he knows it all! And he loves singing, just like I do. He and Matea and I sing together in the car, and it is a joy to hear him sing “Holy, Holy, Holy,” “Praise Him, Praise Him,” and “We Love.” This year he also asked Jesus for eternal life, and shared with us over and over that he loves Jesus, and loves God. A heart responsive to God’s truth is what I pray for for myself, others, and my children. It has been an incredible blessing to see Eli learn to know God and love Him more this year.

We love you so much, Eli, and can’t wait to see God’s plans for our wonderful 5 year old! Happy birthday!

Meijer Garden Field Trip

Well, it’s been like a month since this happened, but Eli had a field trip to Meijer Gardens with his class at the end of April. I wasn’t able to go since I had BSF on Monday morning, but Jon was able to take off from work to go with Eli, which made the whole day more special anyway! Matea and I joined the boys at lunchtime and then Jon went back to work while we played at the gardens a bit more.

We’ve been to the butterflies and gardens so much that it wasn’t as special as it might have been, but we still had a good time. It was much hotter than they said it was going to be so I felt bad that I dressed the kids so warmly! They did get to play in the water though so that helped. Unfortunately I had packed the extra clothes in Jon’s backpack . . . which went back to work with Jon. Oops. So the kids got a wet, refreshing ride home. :)  Still, it was wonderful to be outside and I’m looking forward to more visits to the gardens, with extra clothes, this summer!

Eli and the preschool class under the big horse.

Daddy, Eli, and a dragon.

Mommy trying to get a nice picture of Matea and the flowers . . . FAIL!

At least these flowers stood still for me.

Matea wasn’t too sure about what Eli was about to do!

Now she’s going to give it a try!

Ringing the bell at the farm (man was that thing loud!).

Riding the sheep. :)

The only picture of them playing in the water since my camera battery died right after this. :)