I'm 4!

It wasn't just a happy fourth birthday but a happy fourth birthweekend! As a family we have been so overbooked with activities that we could not find a time to have an actual big party with friends. So instead we broke it up into several smaller birthday events.

First stop: Baskin Robins (for lack of other options) for a cotton candy ice cream-- with rainbow sprinkles, of course.

Next: Al Othaim Mall for some playtime. We had one hour between prayers to get some serious playing done.

Ethan REALLY wanted to ride the bucking bronco, but after watching a few children get thrown...

we decided it would be better to stick with stunt riding instead.

But even that got a little crazy!

What's a party without balloons? Ethan adores balloons and was so excited to choose a color...

and watch it be blown up.

The next evening Ethan's dream-- a blueberry cake with blue frosting and topped with firefighters-- came to fruition.

With Dad's guidance the cake was made.

However, I'm sad to say, due to bus delays the next day,  Dad did not get home in time to decorate it. Instead he got Mom's sad decorating skills.

On Ethan's actual birthday he came down with a high fever. He slept the day away and only perked up just in time for his pajama party.

Just before blowing out his candles he whispered his birthday wish to me. It was for a camera/video camera.

Which, surprisingly, is exactly what he got. He had not been asking for one and this gift was completely top secret. I had Grandma Jenkins bring it when they came to Doha. I was so sick of him taking my camera hostage all the time I was determined he have his own.

Then last but not least...

handmade, original Great Grandma Naquin Superman and Batman superhero capes. These were a total trip down memory lane for Chris, as he wore these to save the world when he was a small boy.