Happy Birthday Jake!!

Yesterday was our son's 4th birthday...and what a day it was!!

I'd forgotten to get some wrapping paper & gift bags for his presents so I got up at 6am to head out to the Supercenter. The theory was I get up early before the kids, get to the store, make my purchases, snag some donuts for everyone and be back home before the chaos erupted.

I didn't even get out the door before Jake saw me, at 6:15am and informed me that he was probably getting some presents for his birthday.

Man, that kid is way too smart for his own good.

"Yes" I whispered. "You're going to get some presents but first, Daddy has to go to the store to GET those gifts. So why don't we tiptoe down and get in bed with Mommy?"

We crept down so we wouldn't wake Kaitlyn up because I knew that if the kids were up at 6:20am, Mommy would have to get up and it'd somehow come back on me that I woke the kiddies up...thus, putting Mommy in a slightly irritated mood toward yours truly.

Jake got into bed to a smiling, welcoming Muddah (that's what I call her sometime because the kids, when they were younger, couldn't say "mother" and "muddah" has kind of stuck) and I was able to get away without a boy wanting to go with.

As I drove away, I heard the pre-recorded message I'd done at KLRC a couple weeks ago come on the air. It was me, giving birthday greetings and a message to Jake in conjunction of our family's sponsorship of that day's music. We've also done the same thing for Kaitlyn's birthday this Friday. I was excited to hear it on air and couldn't wait to tell the rest of the fam when I got home except...

my wife called me at 6:27am excitedly asking if I'd heard it. Jake was in the background going "Awww yeah!"

We were able to get the boy a few of his gifts before breakfast, some of which included cars from the movie "Cars" (Jake calls it "pixar cars"...I told you he was smart) and a few Power Ranger items.

Yes, Jake has entered the 4 year old realm of superheroes and pounding on his Daddy...which I absolutely love!!!

He put on a Power Rangers costume we'd gotten him, along with a foam rubber sword and then proceeded to do some sort of boyish karate routing before pouncing on me. I think I was assaulted no less than 5 times yesterday.

The rest of the day included being serenaded for lunch at Logan's Steakhouse and then again for supper at O'Charleys (we ate supper there because kids eat free!!). Both times, we walked away with cake (or ice cream) in our bellies. Birthdays are good.

So today, we are prepping for his superhero party tomorrow with his friends from school. Jennifer & I are wearing our "Incredibles" t-shirts, keeping with the theme, while who knows which character Kate & Jake will decide to be. Regardless, it should be a lot of fun in spite of all the pizza, cupcakes and Capri Sun fruit drinks the kids will be hyped up on.

Happy Birthday Jaker...we love you so much, my little man!!