Roland's 4th Birthday

Roland turned four this year, and was extremely aware of this event many, many months prior. Around Christmas he started asking about his birthday. By March we were getting daily birthday requests. Monster truck cakes, balloons, ice cream. As we enjoyed the birthday season - Connor, Jack, and Gabe - Roland grew more and more excited that his day was coming. Behind the scenes we were trying to plan when and what to do. For his first three birthdays we keep the production simple and family centric. Sometimes we were here, sometimes we were in San Diego, sometimes the day fell in the middle of the week.  

Michelle made this awesome strawberry cake from scratch! This is also sad proof of how horribly dyslexic I am...sorry Roland!

  

This year Roland’s birthday fell on a Saturday, which gave us a great opportunity to celebrate all weekend long. Many, many stars aligned for everyone to be in town at some point to celebrate. On Friday I brought in lunch for Roland’s class. It was a  wonderful time. He was so excited, so proud! I got to read the class a couple stories while Mrs. Gigi set up the meal. (grapes, steamed veggies, cheese pizza, cupcakes) What a wonderful time seeing such a sweet group of his peers celebrating with him. He and I had such a good time: picking out his birthday crown, eating and reading his favorite books aloud. In the afternoon they enjoyed the special cupcakes I prepared. I know I won’t have too many more opportunities to share this event with him at school.

Picking out a book for me to read. (Christian, Will M, Will G, Landon)

Per our tradition Brian and I settled into the couch later that night and began blowing up balloons. I decorated the house with streamers and his banner. We tossed the balloons all over the kids bedroom floor so that when he awoke, they’d be there for him to enjoy, signaling his birthday. It was hard hugging Roland goodnight that night, knowing it would be the last time I would hug him as a three-year-old little boy. A toe-headed toddler. Tomorrow he would be four.

I made him heart-shaped chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, just a bit more special today than most Saturdays. We opened a few presents. We explored the park and just generally did what Roland wanted to do.  

 

That evening Jack, Kristi, Connor, Michelle and Steve all came over to celebrate Roland’s special day. Michelle made a wonderful strawberry cake, the kids played like mad for hours and we all sang happy birthday as he expertly (finally) blew out the cake.

Have you seen more sheer excitement on three little dudes?

Steve and Roland share a birthday day. Steve turned 728!

We selected Glow Galaxy on Sunday afternoon at noon to host neighbors, friends, family and classmates for one pizza, golf and bouncy extravaganza. It was an incredible success. I’m embarrassed to say but it has taken me a while to come around to birthdays. There’s a balance I think we try to strike where the child feels celebrated, not spoiled. Loved but not worshiped. So I was always trying to downplay how we would handle birthdays. Plus as an adult you have to let go of those types of expectations for your own birthdays, and I projected some of that in this situation.

 

What I've learned, from Michelle, is that you just get this one chance to celebrate this life turning 3, 4, 35, 60. Just once. So this year we went a bit bigger, but with understanding that they will likely get smaller as the years go on. Not necessarily less expensive or less festive, but probably with a smaller group. And then things like school and sports and travel will start to play into scheduling, decisions, etc. Regardless, we will live it up. We will celebrate this amazing day!

 

When I look back on that weekend, I remember - although vaguely - Roland’s birth. I think about our first night together. How simple and natural it felt to feel him sleeping on my chest in the dark. And then like dominoes, a thousand other memories fall into one another. And that’s why I write about these events, so I can sort them out and focus on just one moment.

 

I think Roland has laughed since birth.

My moment from this 4th birthday is unquestionable. After Roland’s party at Glow Galaxy, packed into the room, kids finishing up pizza and cupcakes, the host asked everyone to cheer out, “Happy Birthday Roland!” one more time. I hoisted him up on my hip and watched this shy smile, authentic and innocent spread across his face as he received this love. Even now, to write about it, wow. Here was our little boy, quickly growing older through the love, support and friendship of all the people in that room and beyond. What an amazing gift! Brian and I didn’t buy him anything for his birthday. Not one thing, but that moment was worth every dollar. That and the special tie-dyed t-shirt he got that he absolutely loves.

 

Happy 4th birthday Roland, we love you.