7

Jake turned seven last Sunday. SEVEN.

S-E-V-E-N!!!

I asked him, jokingly, when he woke up, "So, do you feel older?"

What I meant was, "Because I DO! What have you done to me?! Look at these lines! Aaargh!..."

Saturday night Jake had a couple of his buddies over for a sleepover. Grace and I made a cake designed to be a Pokeball, of course. By the way, I asked the man at Party (Pooper!) City if they had any Pokemon party supplies and he answered no, that they haven't for a while because, "Pokemon was, like, years ago." Thus proving that I am indeed encouraging the classics at our home.

For his birthday, all Jake wanted was to do was play Super Smash Brothers Brawl, a new game for the wii that happened to come out on Sunday. Our nearest GameStop was having a release party at midnight on Saturday night, so Matt bravely demonstrated sacrifice for his son by venturing out into the crisp cool night to retrieve the game for Jake. (I am sure that it had nothing to do with the tournament that was simultaneously occurring at the store, and it's not like he did the same thing when Halo 3 came out...he left at 11:00 for that one...)

When Jake awoke Sunday morning, (at 5:30!!!) he and his friends greeted the festive room by playing balloon soccer/volleyball/massacre, thereby ensuring that our downstairs neighbors will surely request our eviction.

He then opened his precious game, and hours of gaming ensued ... with Matt yelling in the background, "I can't believe you are using Kirby against Meta Knight! Mwhahaha!" and other encouraging cheers.

Later in the afternoon my parents and Matt's came over for a small celebration and some yummy Chinese food. Jake opened gifts including a family tradition, Dr. Seuss's "My Book About Me."

My parents also gave Jake a big box of Pokemon figures. Grace was so moved by this gift that she proceeded to perform her own rendition of "Happy Birthday" for Jake.

That night we had Jake's favorite dessert, lemon cake, adorned with a festive 2" pillar candle from Michael's since someone (errr...) forgot to get the birthday candles.

Even Nathan was enjoying the hoopla, as Grandma shoveled frosting into his new-to-solid-foods mouth.

Jake is my first baby. There are no words to describe what an impact he has had on our lives. I had a friend when I was younger (a first born) whose dad called her pancake because you always burn the first one, but you spot your mistakes and do better next time. I am glad Jake has been our "pancake" ... and I hope he is not to charred because of it!

Happy birthday Jake!