Zach's 4th Birthday!

Okay, first of all, I just need to say that I cannot believe that Zach is already four!  When you start having babies everyone tells you that they grow up so fast....they're serious, it's not just one of those things that people say.  It has been amazing to watch Zach transition from a baby into our little man.  With Nathan gone he has definitely stepped up to his role of "man of the house", and does his best to take care of Kylie and I... it's so sweet.  This summer we have watched the Lord begin to soften his heart and give him an amazing appetite for learning the things of God.  I pray that this pattern will continue not only in his life, but in the lives of our other children as well.

Alright, before I drench my laptop in tears, let's get to the party!!!  We did a Cars theme this year, our first actual theme ever, and I think it went well.  Zach loved his cake, had a blast playing with his friends, and is still talking about the fact that I remembered to buy birthday hats (it's the little things:)).  Here are a few pictures!



Mr. Lightning McQueen...or at least my version of him...he didn't turn out quite like I had envisioned, but all of the kids (especially mine) thought he was awesome, and that's all that matters!



Kylie was NOT as fan of the birthday hats, and as much as I tried to get her to smile for a picture in one, she refused... Zach, on the other hand, thought they were awesome.



We were at a huge park, and where were they playing?  Behind the dumpster:).



Cake time!  He is definitely pretending to blow the candles out just so I could get a picture.  Thanks to our ever present coastal breeze, I could not get the candles to stay lit for more than a second (if that).




Kylie (a.k.a the easiest baby to entertain ever).


I also tried to take some pictures of the gift opening process, but being that this was the first kid party (party to which we invited other children) I had ever done, I was completely unaware of just how close to the present being opened EVERY child at the party feels they need to be.  He loved all of his gifts!

Thank you to everyone who came and helped to make his first birthday without his daddy extra special, and to everyone who has helped to shape him into the amazing little boy that he is.  Thank you, Lord, for giving us our sweet boy and for giving us strength and grace as we raise him into the man You would have him be.