FINAL Ben birthday update

holy cow I am exhausted and DONE with Ben's birthday celebration (sorry bud). Just for posterity sake, here is how you actually spent the big day.

• Joe woke us all up bright and early at 6:15 a.m.
• We watched a movie and played in the basement for a bit and you opened your presents from daddy, joe and I.
• At 8:30 a.m. we met Nana, Bampaw, Uncle Craig, and Aunt Mal Mal for breakfast at Cracker Barrel...a Ben B-Day tradition. You opened your present from Nana and Bampaw (an MP3 player, which you LOVED).
• We went to the park after breakfast for a bike ride and play time.
• We were home by about 11:30 and exhausted already. I think you were really over your birthday too at this point! It was super hot outside (95 degrees) so you and Joe put on your swim trunks and we headed to the backyard for a water gun fight. It somehow ended up being 3 against ME so I ended up soaked!
• After the water gun fight Joe lay down for a nap and you watched your new movie, Alice in Wonderland, with Daddy and I. Oma stopped by during this time to see the birthday boy. You also received numerous phone calls from people who love you wishing you a happy birthday. You finally announced "I am out of words. No more calls please." When your Aunt Barbie called you said hello, thanked her for calling and then made crackling noises as you said "You're breaking up, you're breaking up. I can't hear you." What a goof.
• Once Joe woke up we headed back out with Nana, Bampaw, Aunt Mal Mal, and Uncle Craig and this time Great Grandma joined us as we all went to Cold Stone Creamery for some birthday ice cream.
• Aunt Mallory came home with us and we all played and prepared for your impromptu birthday cookout, which Nana supplied the food for and Daddy cooked -- steaks and cheeseburgers on the grill plus corn on the cob, pasta salad, chips, and watermelon. Your favorite!
• Following dinner we played a heated game of softball in the backyard, during which mommy managed to hit 2 home runs. Woot woot! After the game outside we headed inside and introduced Bampaw and Uncle Craig to our new favorite game, Aggravation. Uncle Craig won. Boo.
• We then decided it was just barely dark enough at 9:15 to head outside to set off a few fireworks in our driveway. You were not overly impressed.
• Since everyone was awake we piled into the minivan along with Aunt Mallory and Uncle Craig and drove downtown to see the fireworks. You and Joe both passed out the minute the show was over and we pulled into our driveway at 10:35 p.m. You had asked Aunt Mallory to spend the night, which you suggested should be another birthday tradition, so we got everyone settled in and no one seemed to be bothered a bit by all the firework noise. We all passed out as soon as our heads hit the pillows.

Whew! Long, long day following a long, long week. We love you Benny. Happy Birthday and thank God we have 12 months to recover before your next birthday celebration.