4 years old!

~The one gift we let Ash open before the party - he liked it :) ~

My little man is 4 years old.
Have I mentioned that I hate Birthdays? I do...I hate them. I try hard not to be, but I'm always sad when my babies turn another year older.
This year, I had company.
The night before his Birthday, when I was putting him to bed, Asher told me he didn't want to turn 4, he wanted to stay 3.
I SWEAR I didn't tell him I was sad about him getting older. Cross my heart that I was very cheerful and excited about his Birthday!
But maybe he could tell. Anyway, he said he wanted to stay 3 and that he wasn't big enough for preschool.
This is the boy that's going to break my heart when he goes to Kindergarten. If he cries, I swear I'll lose it.

Anyway, I just told him not to worry about it, there are still a few months before preschool and that he is still my best little boy. That was enough for him, thank goodness!

His Birthday party was the day before his Birthday this year, on Saturday afternoon.
We rented an inflatable waters slide and filled up 100 water balloons. There were water guns and beach towels...it was awesome!
For about 45 minutes.
Then it rained.
I didn't take one picture of the water slide, the balloons, ANYTHING outside, because I didn't have time! I was still inside getting things ready when they were playing, and then it was over.

So we moved everyone in the house and ate dinner in here. Matt barbecued in the rain. The kids ran around in swimming suits and the adults crowded into the family room to eat. It was not what I had planned, but Asher had a good time, which is all that matters.

This was his first Birthday that he had actual friends to invite, and he had a blast. New friends Ryker and Briyler from next door, Averey from next door (opposite side!) his friend Merrick, plus his cousins Sebastian and McKenzie - there were lots of kids for him to play with and he loved it!
He got lots of great gifts, too. Everyone seems to know that he loves cars!

Asher, Bastian and Averey

The cake was a sun and the favors were sand buckets stuffed with water balls, water balloons and mini water guns - to complete the "Summer" theme.

 

From mom and dad he got 7 sets of Hot Wheels race tracks - they all connect together and create a whole course...it's the coolest thing EVER! We found them on clearance at Target and I couldn't resist buying them all. He also got a scooter (so Tessa doesn't have to share hers!) and a Thomas the Train traveling track that's really cool.
We let him open everything on Saturday.
On Sunday we "unveiled" his last gift - a new top to his train table that I made him. (Here's a link to the it on my project blog.) The old one had the tracks screwed on and was a little beat up, so I made a new one that he could set the race tracks up on or play legos on when he wants to. It's been a big hit, he plays with it a lot.

It's hard to believe 4 years have flown by since we had Asher.
Even though I want to keep them little forever, each new age becomes my favorite. I can't wait to see what changes will come in the next year for my little boy. Happy Birthday, Ash!