Happy NINTH Birthday Kaden (best day ever!)

It's official...my firstborn is NINE!  Wow!  Next year is double digits!  I wish he would slow down a little bit! It seems like just yesterday I was rocking him in the middle of the night wishing and praying that he wouldn't grow up too fast.  

Jeremy had to leave on the day before his birthday for a work trip to Malaysia, so we started celebrating early.  Monday night Jeremy took the boys to a movie, Megamind.  

Wednesday night was when we decided to let him open his gifts from us and then go out for supper and have cake.  Hudsen worked really hard on a picture for Kaden's birthday.  That was his gift to his big bro.

Kaden was very gracious and gave Hudsen a great big hug.  I love seeing our boys like this.

Kaden loves the book Hatchet so he has his own copy now.  He also got some new Star Wars Legos and a subscription to Sports Illustrated Kids.

Jeremy was telling me that one of his favorite birthday memories as a kid was when his parents tied his presents to string and hid them all over the house.  He had to follow the string to each present.  

We did this for Kaden's big gift.  Here are the boys following the string throughout the house:

The string ended in the linen closet in the upstairs.  Tied to the box was a little box and in that box was exactly what he had been wanting.  An iPod!  He was SO thrilled!  We got a killer deal on one.  Thank goodness because I was not excited about giving him one.  He will be an "Apple guy" for sure!   How can you not be??? (that's my Apple plug!) Monica and I joke how if they made dishwashers we would buy one!  

That evening we went out for supper to anywhere he wanted to go.  He picked Outback.  We came home and cut into his Hawkeye cake.  I decided to try making his cake this year.  It was actually pretty easy.  It isn't perfect, but it sure did taste pretty yummy!  It was all worth it when I saw this smile:

Jeremy left Thursday afternoon for his big trip.  This is what Malaysia looks like right now:  
Lucky ducky!  He got to sit by this pool at his hotel for a few days when he got there to recover from his 20 hours of flying.  Wish I was there with him...OK, back to Kaden!
The boys, Grandma Blum and I loaded up with Matthew and Monica Friday a.m. to the WI Dells for Kaden's big day.  He didn't have school on his birthday and he was just thrilled he got to go to one of his favorite places on Earth!  We were looking forward to showing Grandma this place we get to go to a few times a year thanks to discovering the best kept secret at the Dells.  One night for 49 bucks which includes 4 waterpark passes!  We love this little hotel and love the deal they offer even more!  It makes it pretty dang affordable for us.  We started swimming and going down the waterslides as soon as we got there.  We all had a blast.   Here is the link to some incredible pictures of the day taken by Monica:
http://thewillitsfamilytribune.blogspot.com/2010/11/best-day-everhope-you-want-to-see-some.html
I love this picture that Monica took of Kaden and Matthew walking out of the amazing Italian pizza place we seem to always end up at when we are in the Dells.  After an amazing meal and dining experience for the boys (and us!, Kaden looked at us and said, "this was the best day ever!"  What's better than that????? 

My mission to not have him dwell on missing his dad on his birthday had been accomplished!  These are the days and moments that I am SO thankful that I get to be a mommy to these amazing kiddos of mine!  

My birthday

So, I turned 32. Wowsers! My crew made my day so great. Kaden had his 3rd day of school...he didn't want to go. He thought he was going to miss out on all the fun. HA! I don't think he realized that mom's birthday isn't quite like his. It's pretty much just another day at the Horner house. Still laundry to do, diapers to change, meals to make, etc. etc. etc.! However, this year Jeremy took the day off and spent the day at home with me. I don't know if he fully understands how that, alone, can be the best present! Just having another pair of hands in the house is golden. He felt SO bad that he didn't get me some lavish gift. I told him I just wanted a break from my usual routines. I didn't want to fix breakfast, give the morning bottle, change diapers, wash bottles, do laundry, EMPTY the dishwasher (ick), and all those glorious things.

DISCLOSURE: I do love all these things (except emptying the dishwasher) and do not want to sound like I am complaining. I LOVE my life as mommy and wife and wouldn't trade being home with these three precious little ones for anything, BUT a girl needs a day-off once in awhile! :)
Digging in to my Daube's carrot cake. I wait for this EVERY year. I love this cake so much and anticipate this part of my birthday so much in fact, I ordered this cake for Jeremy's birthday last November. He will never forgive me for ordering MY favorite cake for HIS birthday. ;)Mmmmm.....
I love these little people with all of my heart. I am SO blessed to have them in my life!
Jeremy took the boys shopping for me. This is the shirt the boys picked out for me. They thought for sure it looked like something I would like...I think I'll wear it on Cinco de Mayo!!!! They were so excited to give me all of my presents.

Jeremy took a video of Kaden shopping for me. This video might be my favorite gift.

My favorite girl


One of my cards. The boys also made me one, it was ginormous.

Sweet boys, relaxing on the couch with me. A great end to a perfect day.