Hey batter, batter...Andrew's 5!

This cutie pie had his 5th birthday this weekend and oh what fun!

Nonnie came in on Thursday evening to spend the long weekend with us and then Katie, Patrick, Therese, Gigi, and Jabo all drove in Friday evening for the big event.

As usual, Andrew shared his birthday with Super Bulldog weekend and the Cotton District Arts Festival.  So, on Saturday morning, we all headed out to enjoy the sites and eats of the festival before the birthday celebration.  The weather was absolutely perfect!  I always feel like April is a gamble with weather, but this Saturday was warm but not hot and overcast but not raining...so like I said, perfect!

 

Saturday afternoon, we had his birthday party at Patriot's Park which was a lot of fun. 

And because our little guy is very much into baseball right now, we went with a "baseball theme."

Andrew and his favorite little person, Therese.

and with the whole group

This little bit was into everything and probably ate her weight in sugar that day. :)

Pinata time!

(You can see from the last few frames why we had to hold Will off until the end.  It took him 1 swing to knock that ball to pieces.)

Lots and lots of baseball

Later, we had dinner back at home and opened family presents around the table.  I think it is safe to say that our little guy had a very full and very fun birthday party day!

Sunday, we kept the fun going....

Mass in the morning

and then more baseball. 

This time in the form of an MSU/Ole Miss Super bulldog weekend game!  Dan was able to convince Gigi, Jabo, Patrick and Katie to stay late on Sunday afternoon for the game.  It was a great way to end the weekend...relaxing at Dudy Noble!

Andrew, again, with his best girl, Therese!  :)

We are so thankful to be a part of such a great family and have such wonderful friends to celebrate these special days with us.  You are all truly blessings to  us!  Thanks again for being here!!!!

I am also so thankful to be the mom to our birthday boy, Andrew.  I am constantly amazed by this child.  I feel like he teaches us as much as we teach him.  He has the biggest heart and really understands what it means to love.  He is sensitive and sweet and genuine.  He is also soooo funny and such a charmer.  My days are filled with joy and laughter with Andrew around.  It has also been wonderful to see him blossom lately and really start to branch out both in sports and socially.  He has become quite the social butterfly.  It is so incredibly hard for me to believe that he is old enough to go to kindergarten (gulp) in the fall.  I am going to miss my little companion so much during the day, but I know it will just make me appreciate our afternoons, weekends, and summers together even more.  We all love you, Andy bear, and are so proud of the big boy you are becoming!!

At his last pediatric check-up, he was 43 lb (67%) and 45 inches (89%).