Logan's 5th Birthday

Logan turned 5 this year. His actual birthday was on a Sunday, so we had a Sunday birthday dinner with Justin's family - Erin & Gary, Grandma & Grandpap, & Uncle Jeremy. He said he wanted pizza, salad & Funfetti cake. So I made Grandma (Joan) Shook's pizza & we had salad and Funfetti cake for dessert.

Here's Tolan - he just wanted his picture taken

Logan is ready to open some presents!

checking out his cake

get ready

get set

blow out those candles!!

Present time! A Star Wars shirt (and new jeans & sweatshirt) from Mom & Dad

and a guitar from Grandma & Grandpap

We also got him a Batcave, but I guess we didn't get a picture of that. He specifically (& adamantly) asked for it and we had to go to 2 different stores to find it. But I'm glad we did b/c he LOVES it and it has provided hours & hours of entertainment for him & Tolan.

This was also the year Logan got to have a birthday party with friends. We ended up doing a Toy Story party. It's January in Pittsburgh, so we had to have it inside. I was a little stressed about that & keeping 12 4&5 year olds entertained but I found lots of good ideas for games online and I think it went pretty well. We did a Soldier Search & Rescue in the basement with little green army men, a Woody's Shootin' Gallery with Nerf guns, a Space Mission to save Buzz and a Musical Chairs-style Balloon Toss with Toy Story characters on the balloons. Then we had pizza & cake & presents.

He invited friends from church and preschool and the neighborhood. We invited 12 kids, all 4 grandparents and Logan had a special request to invite Aunt Lorie & the girls and everyone came! Some of the parents also stayed, so we really had a full house!

One of his friends had to leave early, so he opened that friend's present & everyone crowded him in the corner trying to see what he got! He ended up getting lots of stuff for his Batcave, a few Toy Story things and a couple of Star Wars items. He really made out on the gifts!

Next time I need to remember not to put him in front of the sliding glass door for the all the photo-ops...

I love this one of him laughing, having a little moment with his friends - this is why we do it!

I made Toy Story Aliens for the cupcakes. The eyeballs are Mentos with a little dot of melted chocolate.

Can you tell there was a Steelers game later that day? Everyone had on Steelers stuff.

and here's Ella, taking it all in

A few things about Logan at age FIVE (!!)

He loves his little sister. He is so sweet and protective of her all the time. It's very cute - I hope he will always be that way for her, she will be a very lucky sister!

He and Tolan are best buds. They really do everything together. Except preschool - Tolan is always asking if Logan is done at school yet. Logan did get some money for his birthday. He bought 2 Bionicles and said that one was for him & one was for Tolan. Logan is always first to back down in a fight over a toy & share. He has a very sweet disposition & doesn't like anyone fighting or yelling....

Speaking of preschool, he loves it. He goes to Rainbowland Preschool and is proud to tell everyone that! He has enjoyed making new friends there and learning new things. As soon as he gets home he takes any papers or little art projects he has made and saves them all in a little drawer in the basement. He has his own little stash down there. The only time they make it onto the fridge is if I carry them into the house.

He loves playing with friends. Lucca is the same age & lives next door. Every day Logan is asking me if it's 3:15 yet (when Lucca is done with preschool). He would play with Lucca all day every day if he could.

He could also watch TV all day if I'd let him. He's our little TV junkie.

His favorite color is still orange & he is still into Legos. He amazes me with the stuff he builds by himself! He plays with Legos every day. He also really likes his Batcave and he's a little bit into Star Wars too.

He is also a bit of a fashionista. He likes getting new clothes and is already picky about what jeans he will wear. There are a couple of pairs I have bought for him that he will NOT wear. He doesn't like the color & says they are not cool...

He likes to tell jokes. They usually don't make sense, but he tells them anyway & he and Tolan think they are hilarious.

Those are just a few things about Logan. We love him & love having him in our family!

Happy Birthday Logan!