Four!

Our wonderful, sweet, kind, always-smiling, happy boy is four! Harry's actual birthday was Monday (yesterday) but we've been celebrating since Friday when we took 26 toddler friends to the requested venue -- Chuck E. Cheese -- for two hours of unadulterated little-kid-joy.

As I've told my friends, I'm not sure that Chuck satisfies the vast depths of parental birthday party vanity, but it very much pleased Harry, who was most

specific in his desire to celebrate with the big mouse. I knew he'd like the games, I knew he'd love the cake (more on that later), but wow, was he delighted when Chuck E. planted a crown on his head and offered him a chance inside the "ticket blaster." Dutiful mother me, I gave the Cheese officials advance word that my young boy would likely be sitting out the hurricane-wind-tunnel of tickets. Harry, on the other hand, was DELIGHTED to go inside, clad in eye-protection and a huge smile. His BF Sabrina, who was glued to him throughout the party (trying very hard, I might add, to make the inflatable crown fit his enormous Barnes casaba), went in too. It was like the final scene from the movie Grease, minus the hot pants and Letterman jacket.

I constantly marvel at our super friends and their wonderful children, so many of whom wrapped their arms around Harry during his party. It was a big love-in, we are so blessed. (Many thanks to our friend Nancy whose amazing photography skills provided several of these awesome photos).

I still remember vividly when my sister-in-law called to tell me she was taking her then young son, Reid, to Chuck E for his birthday. "Your mother would be mortified,"she moaned apologetically. I too felt that same ...shame! But you know, you can't do backyard petting zoos every year, and frankly, Harry could not have been happier. So three cheers for what always matters most...birthday joy. Perhaps we'll be at Charles Cheese next year for number 5. Anyway, I'm pretty sure my mother wasn't above a little skeeball.

Harry's grandparents, Jim and Eliza, deserve much of the credit for underwriting our party, it was their gift to Harry. And a great one. Thank you so much.

To my sweetie pie, we love you SO much. You amaze and delight me everyday, even when you're spraying the garden hose in the house and demanding I haul all 39 pounds of you up the stairs. I just don't know how we got so lucky. You may get taller and heavier, but promise me you'll never change.