Happy 5th Birthday Bradley!

Today I have to give a big birthday shout out to Bradley Bear on this grand occasion of turning FIVE!  We love you buddy and we know you have been waiting for this day with great anticipation so I hope it was extra special for you and all the birthday festivities you had.  Daddy and I are hoping five is a magic number just like you think it is too.  We look forward to seeing how much you learn and grow this year in so many different avenues because at FIVE your still small world opens up a little bigger.  There will be more freedom that comes with more responsibility.  Kindergarten  and more sports.  It’s going to be exciting!! To kick off the excitement we had a party for you Friday afternoon at our church’s FUNZONE.  You had about 11 of your friends there and all their siblings.  The FUNZONE was filled with happy kids.

On our way to set up.  The half choc/ half vanilla whipped mint cake with Oreos I made you in SPIDEY style. 

  

This place really is very entertaining for the kids.  It keeps them playing nonstop and they work up a sweat and then sleep good after!

From left to right: Gavin, Alex, Lauren, Ava, Chase & Easton.

   

Right Picture: Davis, Jack and Wyatt

    

Jordan                                                               Alex

 

Wyatt and the Birthday Boy hiding from my camera

 

Lauren

 

Bradley & Harlan wrestling. 

   

Happy Birthday To You!

   

Making a wish and really blowing out those candles! Mommy wishes you would like taking pictures with me.

  

So many friends around a tiny table.  They barely all fit. 

We opened gifts at home so you didn’t have to break from playing at the party.  Everyone was so great and we are thankful but I really was not expecting Christmas all over again and certainly did not want that.  We will be donating a lot of old toys.  I am far past running out of room for toys for three boys. 

One cool toy was a stomp rocket from Wyatt and his parents.  You can see Brad’s smile and Bradley’s dimple showing.  Anticipating this toy that non the less they shoot off in my house and practically hit the chandelier.  It doesn’t matter how old of a boy you are….they are destructive, plain and simple!

I managed to get one smile out of him. 

On Saturday morning we let him open his gifts from Mommy, Gavin and Easton.  I got him two new games for his PSP.

Gavin picked out a Scooby Doo movie for him and from Easton he got a National Geographic’s weird & funny facts book. After this you packed up and left with Daddy, Zach and Wyatt for a road trip to Arlington and then on to Pennsylvania.

Once you got to Mimi and Dunka’s you split ways with Zach & Wyatt for the night and went to Uncle Billy’s & Aunt Devon’s.  It was Uncle Billy’s Birthday so the two of you had a combined party! Neat!

Picture sent from Mimi.  She let you have a cupcake for breakfast on your birthday! By the looks on his face his Birthday away from Mommy is going just fine but I still miss him. 

     

Then not a whole lot of hours later out at lunch apparently from the next picture sent from Mimi you got spoiled AGAIN! I’m feeling a belly ache just looking at these. 

Tonight on your birthday you took the Metro to Arlington National Cemetery to visit the grave sites of Dan and John.  Then you went to lunch and got back in the car for a two hour drive to York Pennsylvania to stay with Dan’s parents.  Mr. & Mrs. Zerbe.  Tomorrow you will go with Daddy to a hometown unveiling of a memorial built in Dan’s honor.  Daddy and Zach wanted to go and be there by the Zerbe’s side so they weren't alone.  They also love the distraction of having little ones visit them.  Especially the children that their son cared.  This was the point of the trip and I am glad you and Daddy have this time together.  After the service tomorrow you will be driving eight hours home.  I can’t wait to see you tomorrow night.  You are starting off five with adventures and big boy learning experiences.  We are so proud of you Bradley!