Captain Drake is 4!!!

Well, poor guy his birthday was over 2 weeks ago, but since then, Hunter has had a virus and then pneumonia, and we have barely been home!  Between soccer games, birthday parties, funerals, weddings, fundraisers and more we are slightly crazed over here!  But we are so proud of our sweet, smart, funny, athletic, and laid back (except when he whines) little guy.  He is such a joy and we are all so lucky to have him in out life.  He is my baby that loves to:

 "Nuggle" with his daddy (and mommy when daddy is not there);

Asks for a "tennis shoes" when his nose is running and needs a tissue;

Will watch a full football game, ice hockey game, baseball game or whatever sport is on (aside from golf) and not only that but when the boys get to watch TV, Hunter of course wants to watch cartoon and Drake asks to watch any game that is recorded on the DVR.  

Is actually an incredible athlete himself

Loves to read books and loves to "read" them to you too

Loves to dress up, play in the kitchen and play house

Loves to wear sports jerseys

Loves to do art

Is getting pretty good at writing (thanks to school and watching his brother who can write full sentences now.) 

Will wear just about anything I get out for him in the morning (unlike his brother)

Loves animals

Says "Happy Birshday," "Urrplane," (so sometimes I call him Nelly) "Cubers" (for covers), 

"Coach Savan" (Coach Saban), "Can you Pawes the TV?"  and much much more that we love too much to correct him on. 

ANYWAYS....

The morning of his birthday, which was September 21st.

Donut birthday tower (per his request)!

I actually just love this picture of Hunter's bed head and pretending to blow out the candles

Blowing out the candles!

Just some typical silliness

Getting to open a present early (yes he is standing on the table...no I did not put him up there)

When we got to school that day, they have steps 1-3: 

1. hang up your bag, 2. wash your hands, 3. read the morning message...

and this was the message that morning!  His teachers made a book out of his classmates birthday wishes for him, which he pulled out of his bag and we currently read daily... still.

This is a picture with some of his friends from class.  And I am sure a ding-bat.  I read to his class too and then forgot to take a picture of them!!!!!  grrrrr!!!! 

THEN on Thursday, when Grammie and Pop came to town!!!  The boys were so excited and Pop had made this AWESOME treasure chest which held the boys birthday presents inside.  What a cool treat!!!!  Drake's birthday party was Pirate Themed so Pop knew it would be a HUGE hit!

presents inside...

And lots of gold coins!!!

It was so nice to have Grammie and Pop in town.  I ended up having to take Hunter back to the doctor that morning so it was a treat to have them there to help me get ready for the party.

And here is Pirate Pop

(this might be my favorite picture ever!)

When the kiddos arrived the got some pirate mustaches, only if they wanted of course.  It was so cute!

The treasure chest as the center piece of course!  And thanks to my mom who happened to have a TON of plastic beads and coins, PLUS Grammie had a bunch of gold coins in the chest too so it was truly a family effort!

The pirate cake (which of course I did not get a picture of without the lid off the top of the cake)

And the handsome pirate himself (you just may be seeing this again come Halloween!)

As the kiddos arrived we started with some pin the parrot on the pirate's shoulder, which occupied them well enough until everyone arrived.

Running to the first treasure hunt of gold coins, chocolate coins, plastic beads and diamond rings!

Coming back with some loot!

Then making an attempt to get a group picture (which was not very successful) while we waited for Captain Hook to arrive.  We told them to say "aarrrgggh" and it was hilarious!  They screamed for about 2 or 3 minutes straight.

And then...KYLE (I mean Captain Hook) MAKES THE BIRTHDAY ONCE AGAIN!!!  He was so good and hilarious.  Here is walked up to the kiddos with a "prisoner."

Drake is running away here because "Captain Hook" kept asking "Captain Drake" if he had stolen his booty.  I honestly have no idea if Drake was scared or just being silly.  But I do know that  Drake still asks me if daddy, I mean Captain Hook, was joking when he asked him that.   And I mean literally asks me as in today!

Giving the kiddos their first clue on the treasure hunt

There were 6 stops where they received prizes and then ended with at the cake table.  It was fun, but possible a little long for 4 year olds....

The favors

Aaaand of course no family photo, and this was the best we got of the 3 of us.  Pretty pathetic.  And Drakey and I didn't even get one with Captain Hook!  Oh well....I guess we are just glad we survived the party!