A Whole Hand

Hard to believe it but Nicholas is 5 years old now, or "a whole hand" as Nicholas likes to say. His actual birthday was Wednesday, the 11th, and he had a great day. We started the day with pancakes, bacon, and sausage, per the birthday boy's request. Afterwards, he went to Napa with Nana and Baba to pick out a toy at this toy store that they visited last year. After lunch, they dropped him off at school. I made rice krispie treats for school snack and Nicholas came home with his birthday crown. He requested watching Kung Fu Panda 2 when he got home from school. Daddy came home early from work and we made homemade pizzas for dinner. After dinner he opened family gifts and then enjoyed some treats he picked out at a bakery in Napa earlier in the day. All in all, he had a great birthday and felt like a king for the day!

The birthday boy with his crown

Lexi and her pizza

He also requested a Dr. Pepper for dinner (a real treat in this household!)

Present opening begins...such excitement!

Bigsby the interactive storybook buddy from Grandma and Grandpa. Both kids LOVE Bigsby. When you read the story Bigsby talks back to you after you read certain phrases. Nicholas likes to say the lines in the story that make Bigsby talk.

Cool! A light up Yoda lightsaber card from Nana and Baba!

The toy Nicholas picked out with Nana and Baba...a LEGO Ninjago set. Nicholas has become a total LEGO fanatic and I have to say, for being only 5 years old, he can build the sets with minimal assistance.

Jango Fett figurine from Auntie Becca and Brian. Don't let the canned smile fool you...he was SUPER excited to get Jango!

Lexi picked out a card that sang Happy Birthday to Nicholas and they both enjoyed it immensely!

Lexi got Nicholas a Star Wars reading game for his Leapster

Jeff and I got Nicholas a LEGO City police kit. He built it pretty much by himself the following morning.

A Coldstone gift card from Uncle Mike and Aunt Sharon...notice the little thumbs up by his eye. He's excited to get some ice cream. He put the gift card in his wallet immediately and takes the responsibility of having "gift money" very seriously.

A very cute drawing of Nicholas, Lexi, Hailey, and Matthew that both Lexi and Nicholas loved. It is proudly hanging on our refrigerator. Nicholas also got a Target gift card from Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Mark. We went to Target the next day and he picked out (yep, you guessed it) a Star Wars LEGO set. He and Jeff had fun building it this morning.

A Game Stop gift card from Auntie Ray-Ray and Chris. We went to Game Stop the next day and picked out Mario Kart for his DS. He loves it!

Our "big gift"....Nicholas opened a box with two basketballs inside. He was a little confused, until we told him to go into the garage.

We got Nicholas a basketball hoop to put out in the cul-de-sac. After playing almost every day at Grandma and Grandpa's over Christmas, we thought he would enjoy having his own at home. We got a junior basketball hoop, which goes up to 7 feet but can go down to 4 feet tall...that way both Lexi and Nicholas can play.

Nicholas picked out some whoopie pies for his dessert treat

A very happy birthday boy! Thank you everyone for his awesome gifts!