My Baby Turned 4

So much has happened since my last post. The Halifax convention has come and gone, I'm almost able to sleep an entire night without waking up 14 times in a panic thinking that I'm late for a meeting, I got some new tattoos, and my little boy turned 4.

We had his party on May 26. Very intimate, just family and close friends and good food and weather. Simon has been blessed every birthday so far with good weather which means my little house doesn't get too stacked up since we're out on the deck most of the time. Despite the distractions of leaving for Halifax two days later, I actually was able to relax and enjoy the festivities. He made off with an impressive haul. Loads of Spider-man goodies including shirts, a cap, giant stickers and a scooter from his Nana and Pappu. A Ninja Turtle, a flat ball (a ball that you squish down into a frisbee to throw and then it pops back up into a ball when you catch it - quite genius), a remote control dump truck, bathing suits, summer hats and various other toys that have already made their way into his hoards.

Alexandra, Kate, Alexander, Simon

Some friends of mine are in a band called the Red Light Rippers. They have a page on their web site (www.redlightrippers.com) where they post photos of people's kids sporting their temporary tattoos. We had a little RLR theme going on at the party. The kids loved it!

The only thing Simon wanted for his party was a Superman cake. For months - when you asked him what he wanted, that's all he'd reply. We ordered it from Loblaws the week earlier and Rich went to pick it up that morning. He called me from the bakery to tell me that they had screwed up the order and had made a Dora the Explorer cake instead. I asked him to carefully explain to the baker that our son would have to be committed if he received a Dora cake instead of the Superman one. Thankfully, after a few threats on his life - the baker had a Superman one ready that same morning.

The following day we took him to McDonald's because that's where he wanted to end off his birthday weekend. I was too pooped to cook anyways so I let it be.

I still cannot believe he is four. My earliest memories are from when I was four so I know that whatever is going on in his life now - he'll likely remember it when he's in his 30's. Yikers.

On his actual birthday, I was running my arse off in Halifax during convention prep day. Stuffing registrant kits, sorting out AV woes, setting up signage, confirming banquet orders etc. I will provide a full update on the horrors of the Halifax conference in a separate post. Let's not rain on Simon's birthday parade just yet.

Rich had made cupcakes to take to the daycare for his party. He didn't line the tins with paper cups so they stuck and had to be served upside down because the bottoms were hauled off. The instructors at the daycare had a good laugh at the sweetness of it. Poor suddenly single dad for the week trying to bake on his own. A+ for effort sweetie! The kids ate them regardless. I had made the 24 damned loot bags before I left so he just had to pass them out when he arrived. Simon's teachers made him a birthday crown which he wore all night and my folks came by the house that evening to see him. All in all - it worked out well minus Mommy this year.

Happy 4th my little baby. It seems like yesterday when you were the same size as our remote control. I love you.