Oh Mai Family: Happy Birthday Kael!

Yesterday was Kael's birthday and it was... an interesting day. Kael does not like being the center of attention so having his birthday "celebrated" at school was quite an ordeal for him. However, he managed to survive with some help in the form of cupcakes I brought in for snacktime.

Truong came home at 5:00pm and we took the kids to dinner at the Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney. By the time we finished dinner, it was pretty late (past 8:00pm) and quite dark. As we walked back to the car, Malia was looking around with her eyes wide open. That's when I realized that I've never taken Malia anywhere at night before as her bedtime is between 7:00pm and 7:30pm. Add to that the fact that Downtown Disney was lit up like Christmas, her eyeballs practically popped out of her head. It was a really late night for both kids. Malia didn't go down until 8:45pm and Kael at 10:00pm as he insisted on opening his presents AND playing with them too.

All in all it was a nice, quiet, low-key birthday. I still can't believe my boy's FOUR years old. As I look back at his baby pictures, I can see how much he's grown but seeing it and believing it are two separate things.

What made the day really special were all the phone calls from friends and family. Our first birthday phone call was from Josh at 7:15am, wishing Kael a Happy Birthday. That was followed by Ryan at 7:30am (Ryan, by the way, tried to get Kael in joining him to "let's put your birthday cake on fire and then eat it!" -- that kid really cracks me up) . All through the day he got phone calls from everyone. It was great. We are extremely lucky to have a huge family and many friends in our lives to share every milestone with us, no matter how close or how far they are.

Next weekend is his birthday party. We've decided to combine parties with Josh this year since the boys' birthdays are only 2.5 weeks apart, and they know all the same friends. The boys are very excited as they are having a Bowling Party. So imagine this: 15 preschoolers going bumper bowling. Kael is beyond excited - he's talked of nothing else the past 2.5 months and tells everyone he meets at the post office, the grocery store, Costco, etc. about this bowling party. My predominant thought: please don't drop the ball... PLEASE don't drop that ball!

Here is Kael's class waiting to go to snacktime and recess. My kid, of course, is wearing tie-dye. Of course. He's either naked, or he's in tie-dye!

I was very proud of myself for not snitching a cupcake the night before. They looked really REALLY good.

I love that face, dirty and all.

Are you all wondering "What happened?"

Do you see Kael in the front, right corner? Do you see how he doesn't like using his hands to hold the cupcake? He doesn't like getting his hands dirty.

That's what happened.

At the Rainforest Cafe. Malia did NOT want to sit next to the gorilla. It was pretty funny. She kept giving it very cautious looks.

Malia paying more attention to the antics of her big brother than she is to the camera.

The look on Kael's face as he got this Birthday Cake Volcano was priceless.

Compare his look of "Holy cow that's ginormous" to Truong's look of "ohh, yummy - where's my spoon!"

He's still in awe.

I have to admit it was a pretty huge dessert. I think it was 4-5 scoops of ice cream with 2 scoops of whipping cream surrounded by 3 huge chocolate brownie slabs, and smothered in fudge sauce. (Erin, are you drooling?)