Chase Turns 4 With a Dinosaur Roar!

Chase approached his 4th birthday with much anticipation...asking day after day in advance if today was his birt-day. Him reaching the milestone of 4 years seems to have happened as quickly as he entered into our lives in 2004. When the morning of the 2nd finally came we filled his bed with balloons and he woke up to us all around him singing "Happy Birthday" - he sat up, rubbed his eyes and plainly said, "thank you"...almost as though it was a regular occurance. Chase makes me smile.

He had chosen months ago that he wanted a dinosaur party so dinosaurs it was...right down to the dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets (likely no one noticed this except me - its all about the little details people!!!)

Since his birthday fell midweek we waited until the weekend to have his party. I brought a cake to his school on Tuesday and he was as proud as punch to be the birthday boy! We went bowling as a family and had a great time...then celebrated with the church and some school friends on Sunday afternoon. Check out a few pictures of the celebration of this little man's life. But...first let me tell you how much we love our Chaser. He is full of life and makes everyone around him realize that life should be lived to the fullest and is full of suprises. You can rarely expect an ordinary interaction with this kid. The things he says and the things he does are usually done with total gusto... Chase is as quick to charm and be sweet as he is to run his own direction with his own spirit of determination. It has been said before between Benjy and I that no child has ever been named more appropriately. He loves to run and jump and play...he is all boy. His laugh is completely contagious! Because of Chase we are completely convinced as parents that every child is different. He has caused us to be creative and to reinvent parenting techniques that became old hat before. He doesn't fit anyone elses mold and although that can be a challenge - I do believe it is an attribute that is going to take this boy a long way in life. He is a great big brother...always anxious for Pierce to wake up so he can play with him... and a great little brother....so looking up to Reece that now he suddenly doesn't like chocolate anymore either (because Reece doesn't!) We absolutely love this boy and praise God for placing him in our family - Chaser, we think you are a pretty special guy and thank you for what you bring to our lives. We love you much. Happy 4th birthday!!