He woke to find his favorite color of the traditional birthday streamers hanging from his door. Mom had to pull the door shut to get a picture because you wouldn't want to see inside. If you did, you'd wonder why we even left the house this day at all instead of staying home and cleaning up his room.
But it was his 8th birthday.
And we had an adventure planned for the day.
Be advised: photo dump, junk food, sugar, sugar, and more sugar. Did I mention junk food and sugar?
Yep. Looking back at these photos I'm asking myself what i was thinking. But we had fun. TONS of fun.
Just Derek and me.
I told him months ago when we ran into the local gas station that he could have some of these little gems, "maybe for your birthday."
Guess what? He remembered. So we ran up to the store and got these for breakfast.
Later in the afternoon, we headed for the "big city" about 40 miles away to visit a few places and take advantage of some coupons. Derek's request for lunch?
I-Hop.
This boy loves pancakes. L.O.V.E.S. T.H.E.M.
He was too full to finish his plate.
Somehow he managed to find room for the ice cream the whole staff brought out to him while singing 'Happy Birthday'. He got a kick out of that! But he immediately told me to get the red cherries off the top. He's not a fan of those maraschino ones!
What would you like to do now, Derek??
What's that?
You want to go ride the escalator at the sporting goods store?? Um....OK!
(It really is the simple things, isn't it??)
I don't typically take pictures including me,
or the inside of a bathroom,
or of me and my kid inside a bathroom,
a really yellow bathroom...
BUT
today was an exception.
First off, I hope I'm not the only mama out there who still makes her kid go into the woman's restroom with them if need be.
If dad is along or big brother, by all means... head to the men's.
But there are some pretty weird people out there.
And you just never know who's inside!!
And I can't go in to peek.
So guess what?
He got stuck with me.
But we thoroughly enjoyed the huge mirror and took advantage of making funny faces and weird poses and I just had to get the camera out and take a few.
(Just glad nobody walked in on us being silly!)
I'd like to know if there are any other kids out there able to walk by one of these without putting? Mine can't.
Off to Chuck-E-Cheese to use his 20 Free Birthday tokens.
Yep... I'm that kind of mama.
You send us a coupon for something free and I'm there.
Skee-ball never gets old... no matter how old you are!
Some of my favorite photos are the sketches from this place.
We have ones of both the kids through the years but this was the first time I jumped in with him.
I'm glad I did. I mention on my ABOUT ME page trying to get more pictures including me since I'm always behind the camera.
Slowly but surely it's getting easier.
Off to the book store to pick out a new read.
Mama got a Grande Carmel Frappaccino, but she shared.
Derek got his free birthday treat for being part of the Kids Club at the store. He picked the chocolate brownie with chunks. More than half came home with him for later!
(And yes.. if you are keeping track so far we have donuts, pancakes, ice cream, frap, and brownie. Oh my!!)
We're finally back home and he can try out his new mini basketball that he bought with birthday money from grandpa.
It "works" really good!
What would you like for your birthday dinner Derek?
Red Baron pizza (don't ask!!)
Red potatoes
Frozen Red Grapes
Red Cherry Dump Cake
It was a RED dinner, indeed.
It is his favorite color after all!
I'll always remember this day with my boy!
It was sweet!
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