Everyone needs an Aunt Amber!

Gavin had the best birthday of his LIFE--all thanks to his amazing Aunt Amber. Gavin had chosen a treasure chest cake for his birthday cake. Brent said, "Let's hide his presents and have him find them with a treasure map!" That idea was mentioned to Aunt Amber and she turned it into a MAGICAL day that Gavin will remember for the rest of his life! Thanks Amber!!

The day started with a make shift streamer tent (I was almost out of streamers and had to cover a lot of space with what I had) and his favorite breakfast: french toast. And then--he HAD to open two presents like Jenna did...I guess that means it's now tradition. Aunt Tiffy had sent a present by mail that got here last Friday. Gavin has been dragging the thing around with him EVERYWHERE and even sleeping with it next to him. There was no way he wasn't going to be opening that thing before school! And Hooray!! LOTS and LOTS of new school clothes! THANK YOU Aunt Tiffy!! Just in time, because G-man didn't have one pair of pants that fit. (Thank you brain surgery so he could have a LONG overdue growth spurt!!!!!!!!!!!)

Gavin in his new duds, opening his second present.

And then he was off to school. Amber has a friend who has this amazing pirate outfit and the face, voice and acting skills to pull off the most realistic pirate ever! I had this little treasure box full of his birthday treats to share with the class and Black Eyed Boog, the pirate, hand delivered them to Gavin in his class! I only have video of this, but it was HYSTERICAL! All the kids were sitting in a circle at the back of the room and Black Eyed Boog walked in and asked if there was a "Capt'n G-man Smith" who was having a birthday. I was hiding behind a door so Gavin wouldn't see me and know what was going on, but my camera caught Gavin just as he was getting up to Black Eyed Boog. I about died...his face was one of PURE PANIC and was as RED as a beet! I had told them not to expect G to be excited because I knew he would be DYING from the attention and want to run away. His face said it all. It screamed, "Oh Holy CRAP!" That poor kid has my blushing genes--it's more than a blush--your face is completly purple and you are so purple you are sweating....it's hell. Gavin will remember that moment for the rest of his life, and those kids all had a great time talking to a real pirate! Thank you Black Eyed Boog!When Gavin got home from school, the rest of his presents were gone. I told him that the pirate had taken them, but he said he would send him a clue later. At 5:30 there was a knock at the door. Gavin knew something was about to happen and ran into his room and hid in the closet (something he probably wanted to do earlier in the day in front of his whole class, but couldn't!) Here again was Black Eyed Boog! This time with an AMAZING treasure map for Gavin to find his presents!!This map was SO INCREDIBLE. It had clues to 4 different stops, each stop had a balloon and a very nice wrapped present. So fun. And so magical for my kids. The hunt ended at Pirates Pizza where Grandma and Grandpa Smith, Amber and Bonnie and Jon were all waiting with a yummy pizza party, MORE presents and LOTS of arcade tokens. What a fun night!! We will have a hard time topping this birthday. And to think, it all started because he had chosen this treasure chest cake out of my birthday cake book... Oh ya, I worked all afternoon on this thing, only to realize a hard sponge cake would be the only way to go if you don't want the whole thing to collapse... and another FYI--frosting is not glue. More is actually less, unless you want it all to ooze everywhere and make the whole thing look like it's melting.Happy Birthday Gavin! We sure love this kid.