Peter Turns Four

Alex, Ashton, Gabriel, Lisa, Vivian, Jim, Ezra, OdaLisa, Natalie, Julia, Jade holding Adaline, Amelia, Robert and Peter peeking in

We celebrated Peter's birthday the same day as the snow day. I was a little worried on Friday that we might have a really low turnout due to the coming storm. But since we didn't get too much snow and it didn't ice the roads too bad, everyone was able to make it! Both sets of grandparents were there, Uncle William, Peter's NC cousins with their mom, Natalie, and some neighbors that Jonathan invited earlier that morning. 

We played a quick game of pin the balloon on the birthday poster, then opened presents, ate cake and played. Peter had a blast playing with the other kids. It was a little crazy, but overall it was a fun little party. It reminded me that kids don't need much to have a great day. They don't need everything matching or a huge present or anything crazy. They need love and a happy home. 

The circle of presents

I love Julia holding Ezra in this one, cousin love!

When I first asked Peter what kind of cake he wanted, he said, "Chocolate." I asked what kind of shape he wanted and he responded with, "Circle. Oooo, and I want sprinkles on top!" I almost prompted him to do something else, when Jonathan stopped me, "If he wants a circle cake, let him have a circle cake. I'm sure he'll ask for harder things in the future." Good point, good husband. So, we were set, chocolate cake with sprinkles on top.

Then, when Jonathan's parents were in town, I told Peter to tell OdaLisa what kind of cake he wanted. He said chocolate circle. Then, Jonathan's dad, Jim said, "Peter, you could have a castle cake, or a train or..." and just like that, the circle cake with sprinkles was out the window. Peter tends to work in extremes, he's either in a great mood or terribly sad, or he knows exactly what he wants (like Batman for Halloween) or he is incredibly indecisive. He took the indecisive route with this cake. Every color, every flavor, every shape and changing on a dime. He finally settled on a blue train cake with half strawberry and half funfetti cake. Peter and Jonathan decorated the train with a little guidance from Google, other's train cakes and me. I think it turned out pretty awesome.  

Train cake for the win!

Blowing out the candles

For his birthday, Peter got an aircraft carrier, some cute (handsome) clothes, a Nemo scrubber for baths, a couple of books, a circuit building set, magformers magnet building set, playdough, and some peanuts. Jonathan got him this Snap Circuits Jr (affiliate link) but I'm pretty sure Jonathan actually bought it for himself. I was a little hesitant at first, but it has turned out to be a great activity for them to do together. It's a set that has a base and lots of different pieces that you can fit together to make a circuit that turns on a light, or a fan or make a little alarm go off. There are a bunch of different directions that tell how to make the things work. It's pretty cool. Peter is still to young to really do it by himself, but he loves doing it with Dad.

Building circuits with Dad

I've seen a couple of friends do these little surveys with their kids each year to see how answers change and how kids grow. So, we decided to give it a go with Peter. Here's the results. 

1. What is your name? Peter, Peter Benjamin Nelson
2. How old are you? I don't know
3. When is your Birthday? It was next week...wait I already had my birthday
4. What is your favorite color? Green and Orange
5. What is your favorite food? Dough that's not cooked
6. Who's your best friend? Eloise 
7. What is your favorite song? (sings) We all live in a yellow submarine
8. What is your favorite animal? Triceratops
9. What are you scared of? Nothing
10. What makes you happy? you, just you (then he snuggled up to me, extra points)
11. Where's your favorite place to go? Restaurant (I asked- which one?) all of them
12. What do you want to be when you grow up? Worker- building houses
13. How tall are you? (he had Jonathan stand up and he stood up next to him) Dad is large, and so I am medium. (then he made Robin stand up next to him) Mom is like my size. You are medium. So I am medium. 
14. Who is the smartest in your family? me and dad
15. Who is the cutest in your family?  Mom
16. Who is the funniest in your family? Haha, Dad
17. What is one thing you want to learn how to do? Maybe driving
18. What does Dad do for work? Get money.
19. What does Mom do for work? You don't work! (he later clarified that I don't go to work...slightly better)
20. What is something Mom always says to you? Clean up
21. What is something Dad always says to you? Go sit in time out

Snow Day!

On the 7th of January we had a snow day! It was not a lot of snow, and it didn't last too long, but we enjoyed it while it lasted. On the day's leading up to the 7th, we were getting weather warnings of a storm that could drop 4-7 inches of snow. Then, the night before, they were calling for 3-4 inches, and the day of they were calling for 1-3 inches. We got about an inch, and the trees were covered in ice. We were grateful for moving from Utah because we are snow prepped! Hats, gloves and snow pants for everyone! 

Ezra checking out the snow

This bear hat belonged to Jonathan when he was little.

Bearded burglar 

Bundled Baby

It was pretty windy for the first bit, so Ezra didn't last too long outside. Then he went back in with Jonathan's parents who were visiting us for the weekend. Jonathan, Peter and I went exploring in the empty lots on a street over. Eventually there will be houses there, but until then, we treat it like our backyard. Everything was covered in ice and if you were really quiet, you could hear it all creaking. I stood still for a moment and let Jonathan and Peter go forward and just listened. It was neat.

Peter and Robin 

Jonathan and Peter

It only snowed for a couple hours, and stayed on the ground for a couple of days after. Jonathan doesn't miss the Utah snow at all, but I do sometimes. It was fun to have some snow for a day, even if it was just a dusting.