And so we begin our 5th orbit around the sun with the cutest characters around… Happy Birthday Brendan and Trevor!

It was hard making the decision to not have a big party, but in the end I think it was a good day. The idea of birthdays is still pretty lost on a just-turned-four-year-old. Whenever someone would say “Happy Birthday!”, Trevor would also say “Happy Birthday!” like saying good morning.
They got some really nice gifts without an overload of new stuff, they had a blast with their crazy cake, and they even had a quick afternoon trip to the zoo with Daddy!

This morning, Brendan was trying to sneak a peek at a present while I was taking his picture!

He has envied a kid in the neighborhood for his big wheel. Now he has his own, and it is BATMAN! (Can you tell Brendan likes Batman?)

Ready to open!

Dig in!

This Lego set looks just like the Skytrain that they love to ride at the airport! We’ll be riding on Wednesday to pick up Gramma! They are very excited!

Trevor asked me for a “construction cake” this year and Brendan agreed with the idea. This “cake” was fun to make because it didn’t actually have to feed anyone, just look pretty. I had more cupcakes to eat.

While they waited for cake, they video chatted with Gramma and Grampa!

Brendan was OK with candles this time. Daddy had to help him blow them out.

Trevor went straight for the pure chocolate bridge.

Brendan looks around and says, “Hey. Where is my batman cake?”. Of course, this is the first I have heard of a batman cake, coming from a kid that won’t eat any cake.

It works, right?!

It was fun having Gramma at the party. 🙂

We had to do candles a few more times!

Candles, singing, cake eating, oh my

Trevor kept sneaking more bites. He would have gladly devoured the entire tray full of chocolate.

I have so much video to go through. I will put up some highlights another day.

Good night, sweet four-year-olds.

We must be crazy. Our street is having a community yard sale tomorrow and we decided we should be able to put some things out. There isn’t enough stuff to do our own, but with others participating, it might work to clear some things out.

But instead of getting ready for that, we carved pumpkins instead. I couldn’t take pictures of the real slimy guts part because my hands were too yucky to hold the camera. I was surprised at how much Brendan was involved. He helped dig his spoon in and scrape out the goo.

Then I gave them some carving tools.

Trevor put his legs under the cloth because he didn’t want the stringy stuff to touch him. Who has the sensory issues again?

Tadaa! Our household has a thing with owls. Ok, Brendan has a thing with owls and it is contagious.

Our pumpkin-in-a-pumpkin worked. The sizes were just right.

Silly faces, still cute boys!

Nice owl!

We decided not to do a party on their birthday this year. We just didn’t have the energy to put it together and our house is in no condition for it. Tomorrow we will make a special cake and we will do candles. There are nice presents to unwrap. Their real birthday treat is a special “trip-in-a-trip” we have planned when Gramma arrives later in the week. Let’s hope health and weather cooperates.

Our thoughts are with Mexico tonight. I am awestruck by the power of hurricanes and I hope everyone took precautions and got to safety.

We can’t have a portrait day without having outtakes! There is a lot of spirit and energy in the “extra” pictures that I love.

Oops! Not dressed yet, still setting up!

Sitting still AND sitting next to each other? Really?!

The face

“Trevor, sit up and straighten up your back…”

Daddy was clowning

If I don’t look at the camera, you can’t take my picture

So done