Derek had his 2nd birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. He had his 3rd birthday party there, too. He's also been there several times in between each of them. So I thought "How can I make his 4th birthday look any different than the others?" Well, aside from the obvious fact that he looks about... oh, I don't know... a year older. (I don't even need to use electronic age progression to alter last year's pictures!) I decided that I will only briefly describe the party itself, and will talk more about (and show more pictures of) him actually playing with his presents.
The party was held the Saturday before his birthday. Derek said it was "just" his party, "not my REAL birthday." Not that he was complaining. Derek's cousins were there again.
Derek always enjoys having playtime in the playroom at Sir Chuck's. Though with each birthday, the types of things he plays with has changed. He now really likes the big riding video games (I am rather fond of one in particular myself). I guess it's more of a "Big Boy Toy".
The party basically went playtime, pizza, playtime, presents, and cake. Sounds simple enough, but you try keeping up with him! Once again, Grandma made the cake, special order. Derek has been saying he wants to be a policeman, and asked if the cake could have a police car on it. As usual, Grandma did a fantastic job. Derek said he wanted to have the piece of cake that had the lights on top of the police car. With some creative cutting, Grandma was able to get that piece for Derek.
For a while, Derek has been afraid of the Chuckster. Derek would like to watch him walk around, but wouldn't go up to him. Derek is now over that fear. At the party, he gave Chuck a hug and a high five.
Grandma and Grandpa gave Derek a new bike. He needed something new to ride, as the little plastic tricycle thing he's been riding is now too small for him. He actually got the bike a few weeks early (again, he needed something to ride). He really enjoys riding it. Almost every day this past week, the first thing he said when I picked him up from his school was "When we get home, can I ride my bike?" He's already getting better at riding it. It is taking less time to go around the loop in our neighborhood, and last time he didn't even fall off! (I won't feel comfortable taking the training wheels off until he learns how to stop quickly when he needs to.) He got a horn, and needed a bigger helmet as well.
Another highly successful present was his batting tee. Last year I was teaching Derek to throw a ball. (Catching is progressing, but that will take time.) Last year I promised him that this year I would teach him how to hit (as in bat). As soon as we got home from the party, he wanted to go out and hit.
Another present he really enjoys is his sidewalk chalk. Some of the kids in the neighborhood like to draw on their driveways, and Derek joins them sometimes. Now he has a bucket of his own chalk.
Some of the other presents that Derek received include a puzzle, clothes, movies, various Bob the Builder stuff, a couple of Buzz Lightyear things, and a Red Sox poster (who could have given him that?!) with Manny, Pedro, and Nomar on it. He also got a shirt that says Red Sox and has the number 5 on the front (again, who could have given him that!?). He took one look at it and said "It's a Red Sox Number 5 shirt -- It's a NOMAR shirt!" That's my boy!! (It has a 5 and says Garciaparra on the back.)
Once again, Derek had a great time at his party. And once again, I was completely exhausted afterward. But it's all about him on his birthday!