Ayden's 7th Birthday

My first born turned 7 years old this year! It's amazing how you litterally blink your eyes and these kids grow up!

We didn't plan a big birthday because the 1st and 5th birthdays are our big birthdays but you have to have cupcakes so the night before we made cupcakes for Ayden's class.

 Ayden loves staying up late working on projects just like his mom. We made like 40 cupcakes and with dad's help, turned them into baseballs 

  

 another tradition is breakfast of their choice. Ayden chose pancakes with strawberries & whip cream on top. Dad has been on breakfast duty so he did the honors of cooking them (and it kept mom from burning breakfast :)

 I think he liked breakfast

 Next he read his card from mom and dad.... yup, that's right HE READ it..... 

  Make a wish!

 "Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Ayden.... happy birthday to you! 

  Next he opened cards from Graddaddy Lee and Grandma Helen

 Ayden's birthday fell on a Tuesday which was the same day as baseball practice. On Tuesdays as a favor to us my mom would have dinner cooked at 5:30 so we could get there straight from work/school, eat and be at practice by 6:00. Today my mom has something special though.... she had pizza for his birthday!

  Time for presents really quick....

 ritz crackers for a present? Seriously?

 "Tricked you Ayden" (it was a ds case :)

 and more ds games!

 Even uncle Eric, Aunt Jennifer and cousin Mallory, Abby & Chloe showed up! 

 and uncle Shawn got some gifts too (his birthday is the day after on the 27th)

 and yes, we had cupcakes too! 

  The birthday only lasted about 22 minutes but it was perfect!

At baseball practice Ayden had another surprise! Grandma and Papa Gator showed up!

 They had to see their first grand baby on his actual birthday!

 They had lots of surprises for him

 

 

 including a new baseball bag!

  The next day was a Wednesday and the last day of school before Spring Break so it was the perfect time for a birthday party. I got there while the kids were playing outside and passed out cupcakes, juice boxes and a bag of cracker jacks.

 and then waited for the kids to come inside

 when they got in they sang happy birthday to Ayden

 he got a little embarrassed 

 which is weird for him because usually he likes to be the center of attention.

 but he came around pretty quick 

 the kids loved their little "surprises" in the cracker jack bags

 and Ayden loved the surprise of his momma showing up at school

 I love school parties too  

 all the little girls were so sweet to Ayden showing him attention 

 while the boys "kept it cool" 

 we left school that day for a whole week of spring break!!!! Talk about an awesome birthday gift! 

 but wait!!! The birthday celebrations didn't stop there! 

Friday afternoon we headed to the beach for an Easter weekend / Birthday party celebration!

When we got to the beach Grandma Best and I whipped up a baseball birthday cake and we had family night with a movie and popcorn

 and all the kids snuggled together for the night.... well for a little bit and then they started getting on each others nerves and ended up on the floor :)

 then in the morning we had an Easter egg hunt at Scott's Hill's church, followed by dying Easter Eggs at Danielle's house and then another birthday party!

 Grandma Best let Ayden open his card before the party

 Ayden loves money! 

 We set up the birthday party at the park across the street

I know, I know.... "I thought you said no big parties,,,," yeah, I'm a sucker for birthdays :) 

 The night before I made about 30 pb&j sandwiches and froze them so they would be perfect for lunch time

 the kids played

 and then we had an Easter Egg hunt with all the eggs we dyed at Danielle's house 

 While Danielle hid the eggs the kids ate

 and I must say they looked oh so stylish while they were eating

 time to find the eggs! 

 Ready, set,

 go!

Let's see who got the most... judging by Bethany's face, I don't think it was her lol!

Ok, rematch! 

 and the oldest ones won!

Ayden's birthday was the first one that I really didn't plan, I picked up some plates and some sunglasses and just went with the flow and I have to say I think it was one of the most stress free, funnest birthdays so far. I guess since he is my first child that's why I get so emotional on his birthday. I always remember that day Joey and I brought him home scared to death of how we were going to take care of him and then celebrating with each milestone, rolling over, crawling, walking, his first tooth, preschool, kindergarten and now reading and writing. It amazes me how precious are children are and how God trusts us with something so special. Ayden is such an awesome kid, he's strong willed and hyper but he has a heart as big as the moon and an imagination just as big. Happy 7th birthday sweet boy, momma and daddy are so proud to call you ours!