Ian's 4th Birthday!

Ian anticipated this birthday more than ever before and asked for more than a week how many more days remained 'til the celebration. It was so fun to look forward to it as a family!

We started the day with the traditional Larson Family Birthday Picture.

Then we went straight down to breakfast. Ian selected these Cocoa Puff / Marshmallow Mateys at the store. Don't they sound like a child's dream cereal? 

After opening some birthday cards we all got ready for church. Ian loved that the entire primary sang to him and that he got to wear a special heart sticker on his tie. 

By the time we got home from church it was time for his birthday dinner. This year he broke tradition and we didn't have pizza and Cheetos. Apparently high-brow taste comes with age -- this four-year-old selected steak and potatoes, and I made sauteed mushrooms (another of his favorites) to go with it. His Dad hit a home run witht mini A&W root beer cans, too.

Before Ian was done eating he began asking about presents.... and didn't stop asking through the entire dinner cleanup, either. His newly-four-year-old-self could hardly wait!

Ian had been expecting some sort of special outfit to wear after church on his birthday, which was a little confusing to the rest of us. But he was delighted with these Birthday Badges safety-pinned on his shirt instead.

Because he has been requesting a camping trip to Brazos Bend State park for his birthday since back in January, we decided to give him some of his own camping equipment.

A headlamp

A sleeping bag

He even let his brother sit in his camp chair! Nothing makes a mom happier than brotherly kindness, does it?

Especially since this cute kid didn't seem to understand why only his brother was getting the presents and special treatment.  It'll be 6 long months and 2 more family birthdays 'til his turn! And no, that's not a turtle neck in our 90 degree weather -- Joseph likes his pants and his polo shirt backwards. And we like that he dresses himself!

Ian loves this magnetic guy that has interchangeable athletic uniforms. He keeps asking Joseph "Hey brother! Do you want to come watch me play with this?"

Ian also picked out his own birthday cake mix -- who doesn't love Funfetti? He was serious about me dumping  our whole bottle of sprinkles on top, too.

As close to a family picture as we got...

 

Happy Birthday, Ian Boy! From the rolly-polly, content newborn to the lanky, inquisitive, hilarious preschooler, we have loved every second of being your family!