Celebrating Our Pumpkins

 The last couple of days have been all about celebrating our little pumpkins, Bennett and Theo!

Theo turned one on Saturday and Bennett turned four on Tuesday. Our baby having his first birthday is a big deal of course, and poor Bennett swears he waits way too long for his birthday to come around each year; therefore, we made sure these last few days have been extra fun for them. 

Friday night was pumpkin carving night. Douglas and I have been carving pumpkins since college and even joke about really getting into it once the kids are all out of the house. Each year this night gets easier; we each have our roles. I partner with Bennett. This year he wanted "a cute pumpkin...try to make it as cute as me." His words. He refused to touch the insides but was happy to cut up chunks and approve the cuteness of his pumpkin. I also carved Theo's. I do fast work. Doug is more tedious; he partners with Auggie. Auggie would never dream of touching the insides of his pumpkin, but he does have a lot to say about how it looks. He picked a stitches mouth this year for something new and spooky. Em did her pumpkin all on her own this year; her vampire turned out perfectly. You should be proud Em!

Like everything, Bennett had no idea what we were up to and loved every second. He wanted us to turn all the pumpkins around after we lit them so he could see them from the house. Next year Theodore can help and maybe Em will talk her brothers into getting slimy and sticky like her. I am looking forward to it!

Saturday we woke up with a sweet one year old. Someday he will read about how we filled his older siblings' cribs with balloons and how Daddy put candles in their donuts...but not poor Peo. He got an empty crib and a warmed up pancake. Oh to be the 4th. We did put a candle in his pancake and sing to him though. "Happy Birthday" is now his favorite song. 

Theo spent his birthday napping and celebrating another pumpkin in the family, Alayna. The kids were excited to go to her big girl party with a haunted hayride and everything. Theo did get to open one present on his special day...I might have known that Nana was getting him a winter coat and the weather on Saturday warranted it! What a fun present! The kids had a blast chasing around cousins and friends all night, and Theodore went to bed a one year old. 

Sunday was our party day! We decided to do Theo and Bennett together this year (they didn't mind) and went with a "Forest Friends" theme. Bennett wanted no less than 10 different themes and even changed his mind to "space" the morning of his party. Sorry B. Momma got to choose this time. Theo was his happy, handsome self the entire time. Looking all one and stuff here. 

Bennett waits for his birthday all year. After each birthday celebrated in the family he asks when it is going to be his turn. He was just a little excited. Clearly. 

The sweetest gift the boys got goes to their Gigi Bears. Grandma collected Boyds bears (and lots of baskets) and on special occasions my Grandpa gives the kids a bear. I think this is technically Bennet''s second one, but the first one he remembers getting. Theo got his very first one. We love them; they even smell like Grandpa and Grandma's house. 

The most wanted gift goes to this dinosaur jack-in-the-box (said in some weird Bennett/New York accent). For months Bennett has been asking for a jack-in-the-box. It was all he would talk about. We have no idea where he came up with the idea...all we knew was that this kid had to have a jack-in-the-box. This picture doesn't come close to showing the smile that was on his face the first time the dinosaur popped out. His birthday was complete!

The biggest surprise gift goes to this bad boy. Besides a jack-in-the-box Bennett really wanted a ride on toy like Auggie. Really he would say "I want anything that Auggie has." The Barbie Jeep has been ridden a million miles, Auggie's tractor is very much his tractor, so Doug and I decided we needed one more ride on toy to get us through our last two sons. Grandparents, Godparents and a few others helped get this for the boys, and I can promise you it has already been put to the test. They love it. Even Theo! Thank you to family who made this birthday extra special for B and P. 

It was hard to get the kids back inside after this surprise. 

But you can't have a birthday with cake! Bennett and his campfire cake.

And Theo with his s'more cupcake. The fourth kid doesn't get his own cake either.

It took him a little while to figure out what do with it..

But don't worry. He figured it out.

Their birthday was just a sweet day spent with family, and I know both boys felt all the love. Thank you again to everyone that made it special!

Tuesday was Bennett's actual birthday. He shot out of bed at the mention of donuts. Candles in them of course. 

He had the very best day. He picked to take banana bars and milk to school because "b-wana bars is the best thing you make, Mommy." He loved all the extra attention at school (his teachers are the absolute sweetest), ate even more banana bars at Sharon's, enjoyed the afternoon on his new "side-side-side", picked supper at Cracker Barrel and even got to spend a little of his birthday money on a new construction site toy.

He also spent the day telling everyone he was four. He even reminded me a couple of times. 

I'll let him be four, and I guess Theo can be one. But thats it. My babies get no more birthdays after this.

But it is always fun to celebrate our little pumpkins!