Emerson’s 4th Birthday

We had some issues last month with our iCloud syncing photos so I’m a bit behind on blogging. Here goes some catch up!

Last month Emerson turned 4… I can’t believe how old and big he’s getting. I feel so lucky I get to hang out with my best buddy every day and I’m so glad I have a year and a half more with him until he leaves for kindergarten (thank you fall birthday!). Every day this kid is running around the house creating pretend play lands and battles, jumping from furniture and stairs, talking to Henry about sports, helping Genevieve learn her letters or numbers, helping me in the kitchen, fetching a diaper for Henry or a toy for Vieve, he chats with me about his preschool and who is nice and what they learned, he asks if I’ll play bad guys with him or ninjas or Legos, he loves any kind of building block or making structures, he has an insane memory and knows more primary songs than I do, memorized his part for the primary program last week and said it perfectly (followed by a spin ninja jump off the podium…hehe!),  he knows his first 7 Articles of Faith, is sounding out words, can write his first name and is working on his last (sorry it’s so long!), knows who Jesus and Joseph Smith are, and hopes to serve a mission someday to the Lamanites. Man if I could bottle up Emerson’s enthusiasm for life, for the gospel, for our family (and for ninjas) I’d wish everyone could be as sweet, smart, happy, and helpful as he is. Every day I thank Heavenly Father for this amazing spirit I get to call my son. I love you more every day and am so grateful to be your mom. Happy 4th my bud! This year Emerson has been requesting a Pirate Party for about the past 8 months so we went with it (I have to say about a week before the party he started asking for a ninja party, but with everything already in the works I had to quell that desire! I have some pirate swords and stickers to thank for getting him re-enthused about pirate parties).

We mailed out some invites to his best buddies, put together some pirate games and treats, and we were ready for our little maties to show up. We had some homemade pirate headbands, swords, and eyepatches for the kids, and also some goodie bags with a few more pirate toys & candy. Mitch made the most amazing treasure hunt through our house up and down and up and down with detailed maps and clues at every turn. At the end was our huge treasure chest filled with gold doubloons and candy. The kids went crazy!!! We then played pin the eye patch on the pirate, read a Jake and the Neverland Pirates book to the kids, and had food and cupcakes. Then we opened presents. It was such a fun day!

I found these huge plastic backdrops at the party store for $4. I put one on the back door to use for pin the patch on the pirate and cut the other one into strips at the bottom and put it in our hallway. The kids had to walk through it to get into the party. It was kind of cheesy but really fun for me. I don’t know why. I’m lame!      Hope you had the best day little guy. Love you!