Miles is nuts about PBS’s new Cat in the Hat show. So it was obvious what this year’s party theme would be. Instead of buying everything ready made, I had fun putting the theme together myself with fabric, paper, stickers and balloons. After all the snow we had, it was fun to brighten up things around the house. (PS Party bunting can find new life as a dragon tail when tucked into pajama bottoms.)

Miles loved being able to get his own lemonade all day out of the dispenser I get out for parties. He had about 100 refills that day.

Remember Chris? He’s getting married to the sweetest girl ever, Nicole, and Miles totally approves. We all love her,Yay!

I found this adorable Cat in the Hat game and Miles was tickled with it. Look how cute my new friend Erin is on the couch. After a lifetime of my dearest friends moving AWAY from Fort Wayne, a super sweet, talented and cool new friend moves in literally just minutes away from me. Yippee! Of course, right away Miles has her included in his list of favorite fabulous friends of mine and she found herself on a four year old’s party guest list. (Bless you Erin for humoring my son!)

You’ll have to check out the slideshow to see what good sports the grown ups were to play a long with that Cat in the Hat game.

I don’t bake my own birthday cakes when I throw a party (hello, throwing a party is crazy enough!) and I love to just enjoy a great cake made by someone else. This one was made by Sandy Till, a local “cake lady.” (Don’t ask me why I couldn’t get the whole cake in focus. Sheesh!) I was in awe of her teeny tiny piping skills. When Miles saw it, he said, “It’s so beautiful!”

Before Miles blew out his candles he said out loud, “I wish for this.” Wow, what a precious little punkin to be so in the moment. Man this kid can teach me so much.

Miles already feels so much more grown up. He’s reading, spelling and even starting to add and subtract. He’s so creative and imaginative, making up songs, stories and adventures all the time. This age, at least for Miles, seems to be on the bossy and control freak side though. That emerging side is going to give me (even more) grey hair.

He’s working on getting caught up socially by jussssst starting to be interested in kids his own age. This party he invited his family and grown up friends only. I must admit, I was a bit relieved as I’m not ready for a bunch of four year olds running around the house yet, so thankfully Miles is allowing me to ease into the birthday party scene. He says most of the time, “I just want to be with people who are in my family.” So he’s a bit of a natural hermit and I must admit that this winter I have been totally ok with that and feeling the same way.

As much as Miles’ birthday always seems to sneak up on us after the holidays, it’s always fun to throw it all together and watch him enjoy being the center of attention. He’s just so precious and SO GROWN UP!

More photos of the party, our guests, Jocelyn and of course pugs (we were dog sitting that weekend so we had three) in the slideshow, so check it out here:

Miles’ Fourth Birthday Party 2011 from Betsy King on Vimeo.