Birthday Boy

Today my Alex turns 9! That is amazing to me...because just yesterday he was born- honestly, I do remember it as if it were just then. I love this boy- he is everything I could have hoped for in a son- he is sweet, tender, caring, thoughtful, honest, loving, funny, silly, sports-loving, people-loving, and just 100% wonderful. I wish I could just stop time for a while and keep him young- it is hard for me to adjust to having a big kid...he was just a toddler...I know because I have a great memory! I always tell him that I am going to quit feeding him so that he stops growing- I think about it everyday! He always laughs, but I am SERIOUS!
We had a combined birthday celebration on Sunday for him and my niece, Brianna's 3rd birthday. It was at Sean and Steph's and it was a lot of fun. He got more Bakugan figures, baseball cards and a cool Tony Hawk shirt. He was so easy- just wanted cherry chip cupcakes with red icing- I thought, "finally, something easy!!" I didn't have to do an elaborate cake this year! Loved that. He didn't even care that I forgot to get a number 9 to put on top- thank goodness Stephanie had a single one- he just blew that out and was happy.
Stephanie made 2 other cakes: cute, huh?!

It was a nice spring afternoon, so the kids went outside to play and Alex started to "fix" things with the awesome tool box and tools from Grandpa- the perfect gift. The girls love the fruit spread. Kelly (Stephanie's niece), Adriana and Leah.
Great tools!

The 3 amigos...

I made funfetti brownies for his classmates today for him to take to school. He was so excited- he wanted extras to take to his former teachers and current ones too- such a sweetie. Tonight I am taking him to dinner- so it's a mommy/son date- I am super excited. Not to mention it is a perfect day outside- 70 degrees again!

Dana didn't want Alex to wait until he got home today to let Alex open his gifts from us, so we surprised him and gave them to him last night:

We got him tickets to a Reds vs Braves game in June - just check out his face- he is so happy!

Baseball cards and gum- easy gifts!
He loves his new bat- did you know how expensive bats are?! Outrageous! He better use this for a while!

Chipper is ready for the season!
Of all places, Alex chose Big Boy! I am not sure why, but whatever- it is his birthday, and it is rather cheap, so that is where we go:

His 2nd hamburger of the day- he ate lunch at school too- lucky kid!
Hot fudge sundae cake- yum!
After dinner, he and I went to the new Target and he bought an I-dog that he wanted with his birthday money- he loves it. He said that is was the best birthday ever! I think I remember him saying that last year and the year before too...it was indeed a great day for me, too!