I cannot believe another year has come and gone... but McCaleb is now officially a 4-year-old! How is this possible??? Where did the time go??
Despite my best efforts to keep him little - he is growing into a little boy right before my eyes. It is a good thing, I know. Still, it breaks my heart.
For his birthday, Mamoo and Papoo offered to have his birthday party at their house. McCaleb was so excited! All day long he kept trying to guess what kind of cake he was going to have... either Lightning McQueen or a Tractor cake, he was sure! (Since I was NOT sure... I hoped for one of the two...)
Since the Olympics had just kicked off... the kids competed in several "events"! First there was the skilled painting contest...it was very cute! Afterwards, they had the LONG JUMP...the "discus" throw (aka mini frisbees)... timed relay races... the sack race...and finally the water balloon toss. It was an exciting and eventful competition - but everyone had a wonderful time.
McCaleb was about to bust waiting for presents... but we did talk him into cake and ice cream first. He was so excited that he got a tractor cake... and although I didn't get a really good picture of it... it was adorable with the tractor and all the little animals on top. He very carefully took each animal off and licked all the icing off so that he could pack them away and take them home with him. :)
We let Dad open his birthday gift first... since his birthday was on August 1st. They were in Arizona... or somewhere along the way home... so we waited until McCaleb's birthday to open his gift. He got a WONDERFUL BOOK written by my step-brother, Joey. See the post from August 1st entitled A SHAMELESS PLUG FOR A WONDERFUL CAUSE!! 
Finally... McCaleb got to open his presents. He was so excited. He got a Super Soaker, a Batman towel, more tractors and bulldozers... he got a FOOTBALL, a video, some new clothes... and a REMOTE CONTROLLED HELICOPTER. He was so excited! 
However, the highlight of his entire day - had to be the dirt pile. He had been giving it the eye since we arrived at Mom's house. Apparently the water company had to move/raise or alter a manhole cover... and boy did they make a huge mess out of Mom's yard. It was a 4-year-old boys dream come true. He finally made it over to the dirt pile. In one photo you will see him with a stick in his hand. He decided he was going to DIG in the dirt. Well... after a little while, he says, "Look Mommy... a root!" When I saw him tugging on "it" I said... "Pull on it!" So he did. It wasn't a root. It was a dead snake... yeah... without a head.
Here is the snake... only Mamoo made him use a shovel the second time. :)
And of course, I had to say something. When I told him it was a snake... he was SO PROUD!!! Of course, everyone else screamed... and then began to scream at McCaleb, "Throw it down!!!" He did... he thought he had done something bad...but I told him it was OK... no big deal. He perked up a little and said, "Then can I pick it up again???" What a BOY!
For McCaleb - every day is an adventure. He loves to meet each challenge with a smile and an easy going attitude. I have said it before, and I will say it again... he is the sweetest child! We will be driving down the road and out of the blue he will say, "Mommy... I love you. Daddy...I love you..." and then he will tell each of his sisters. Such a sweet boy! McCaleb makes all of us better people. He wakes up happy, goes to bed happy... sees the best in everyone... never complains (unless someone else is getting on his tractor)...loves everyone... and remembers to pray for people that are sick or hurting even when I forget. He is a precious child with a very big heart, and I am so proud of him. Happy Birthday my sweet boy!
