The thing with Max's birthday is, it's never just a one day celebration. It spills over into multiple days. And since it was on a Saturday this year, it was bound to be a whole weekend affair! Oh to be that young...when you look forward all year to having a birthday. How soon that changes! :)
Max came home from school on Friday with a big birthday banner that all the kids in his class had signed for him. I thought that was a super cool idea!
Saturday morning (the big day!), was an early one. Hockey try-outs at 8:00am.
Over the years we have amassed a random and eclectic assortment of birthday banners and decorations. We hung all of them up in his room and randomly scattered nine balloons on his floor. He loved (LOVED!) waking up to the decorations. Such a small thing starts off a birthday right! (He is choosing to sleep in the trundle portion of his bed still. He likes it better than his actual bed. Silly boy!)
Back from hockey...let the celebrating begin!
As the weeks and days grew closer to his birthday, there was one consistant thing he wanted. A skateboard. Keith and I had other ideas. But the day before we looked at each other and decided that our ideas can go on hold and we'll get him the skateboard. Easy.
It's pretty hard to wrap a skateboard so that he doesn't know what it is. You can tell by his smile above he knows....
Not in the house buddy! See how he's smiling at me....he knows!
Pancakes and sausages for birthday brunch...
Every year starting at his first birthday, we've taken a photo of Max wearing Keith's Leafs hockey jersey. This year it was skateboard style!
And then we went outside for a few more photos. Someone does not like the Leafs. Can you tell? Makes it a bit of a challenge to get him to wear the jersey!
This weekend was the annual New Hamburg Fall Fair. So after we were finished eating brunch, we headed on down to take it all in. Aunt Heather and Aunt Vanessa were there competing in the 4H Calf Show. We couldn't stay the whole afternoon to watch, but we did see them both compete in showmanship.
After a few hours at the fair, we raced to the grocery store to pick up the cake for Max's party. The cake! One of the most important details of a birthday. I usually trust Sobey's here in town to take care of that for me. A cake baker/decorator I am not. We went with a hockey cake done in cupcakes...easy to serve little 8 and 9 year old boys.
I also know enough by now to take a photo of the birthday boy with his cake before the party. Otherwise it won't happen. It will be pandalerium when it is actually time to serve the cake and I won't be thinking of getting a photo.
So that afternoon at 4:30, we had Max's friends party just to add to the craziness. I was not crazy enough to have it at our house. I know better then that! We headed to Laser Quest and had everything there.
Half the boys met us at our place and we drove them there. The other half, met us at Laser Quest. We had them jump off some energy on the trampoline before we left!
They played two games of laser tag.
Here they are checking out their scores in between the two games.
We had a party room reserved after the laser tag games for pizza and cake...
A good time was had by all. They were tired out from laser tag so pretty calm when it was time to eat and open presents. We sent them on their way, each with a goodie bag full of sugary treats that we had fun picking out and putting together.
By the time we got back to our house, it was 7:30pm. We had been going non-stop. But there was still one more thing on the agenda....a quick visit with Grandpa & Grandma. We picked up aunt LeeAnne on the way to their house and enjoyed the leftover cupcakes with them.
And by the time we got back home once again, it was 10:00pm. And we were all very very tired. And we all went to bed and slept sweetly and soundly. What a funtastic birthday for our Maxter. We all had a great day!
Sunday morning came very soon. Keith had to teach adult Sunday School. And unfortunately, Max had hockey try-outs again Sunday morning. I'm really not a fan of hockey on Sunday mornings. I'm glad this is only for a short time during tryouts as it's not a habit we like or want to get into. Since Keith was teaching, it was my turn to get Max to hockey.
After hockey, Max had been wanting/thinking/planning to run the Terry Rox Race here in town. But you know what. After hockey was over with, he was tired and when I asked him, he was more than content to skip the race. A busy weekend will do that to you....young and old alike! So...the three of us hopped in our truck and went over to Grandpa & Grandma's just in time for lunch to celebrate Max's birthday with all the Gerbers. They were going to celebrate and have cake without him if he would have decided to run the race! You do what you have to do in our family! Sometimes you're celebrated even if you're not there. In this case, he was. Woot! Woot!
I barely took any photos. I was photoged out. But I did get one of Vanessa showing off her stupdendous babysitting skills. Isn't she just a natural with little ones?....LOL!
Poor Sawyer Brown. When you're 1.5 years old and don't like being contained at all....having aunts who want to hug you and cuddle you is just the worst!
And so, we got back home Sunday evening around 6:30. Max was very content to inspect all his cards and gifts and play quietly. Keith packed and headed for the airport around 8:30 to catch a red-eye to Alberta for the upcoming week. And I just sipped tea and read a book. Lovely. :)
This little man.....we love him very very very very much! His eagerness and energy just radiates out of him. He has worked so hard this past year in hockey and come so far!
After Sunday morning's hockey try-out, each player and parent had an interview with the coaches. Max received some great news...news that he had been working hard for and hoped to hear. He made the Atom AE Team! This week, practices and games begin in earnest and he has alot of hard work ahead of him. But we're so proud of his efforts and what his hard work has achieved so far. It's going to be an interesting fall and winter spent at the hockey arenas! And that news was just a really great way to finish off a fantastic birthday weekend! Way to go Max!
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