Happy 3rd Birthday Eli!!!

My oh my, where has the time gone? Was it really 3 years ago that I joined the Mommy club? We had such a great time today celebrating our 3 year old Eli. I've mentioned many times that I love birthdays and I want our boys to love their birthdays and know that we truly do celebrate the day they were born.

The day started, of course, with a birthday banner, balloon, presents and a special breakfast on the star plate - breakfast of choice, chocolate chip pop tarts! Eli loved having such wonderful treats when he got up. He especially loved opening presents, just some little ones to start the day. Then it was getting dressed and off to school. Tim & I went to school for lunch as they were having end of summer picnics. We loved being in Eli's class and having lunch with him. And he really loved having us there. After lunch, his classmates sang Happy Birthday to him and then they all had mini cupcakes that we had taken. School had given him a cupcake sticker for his birthday and he loved all the attention. I snuck a few peeks into Cole's classroom but didn't go in because he would have been more upset than good by me coming and then leaving again. Before we left though, we did get to see Cole napping on his cot - so cute! We took Eli out of school early so he could have a special Mommy / Daddy afternoon. When we got home, we gave him his big gift - a red Strider bike. He was so excited when Tim brought it out and told us "it is soooo cool!". His reaction was so great. He practiced inside for a few minutes and then it was helmet on, time to ride. He rode up and down the road through a puddle until he was hot and sweaty. Then we had planned to take him to his first movie - 'Toy Story 3'. He was excited to go to the movie theater but especially to see Woody and Buzz. He didn't like the previews at all, getting scared at some of them. He enjoyed the movie once it came on but near the end, he was really tired and got emotional on me - the noise and parts of the story upset him. I took him outside for a few minutes and he about broke my heart when he was upset that the baby doll in the movie just wanted its' mommy. He was sad that the baby didn't have a mommy - behind that brute exterior, he's so tender hearted! Eli fell asleep before we got home and Tim was able to walk him upstairs and put him in bed without Eli waking up the slightest bit - very tired little boy. While he was sleeping, I picked up Cole a little early and we ran to Target. Cole enjoyed snacking his way through Target and we got our shopping done. Back home, it was time for Pizza night and more Eli celebrating. Grandma C got here for pizza night and helped with the boys and the rest of party preparations.

All in all, I think Eli had an amazing day. Let's hope he gets a good night's sleep so he will be ready for his Monster Jam birthday party tomorrow!

Waiting on Eli when he woke up

He snagged one of his birthday cookies as part of breakfast too.

Cole loves when we let them have a pop tart for breakfast (not often so such a treat!)

Eli and Daddy during show & tell before the picnic

Waiting for lunch

I LOVE this cheesy face!!

Be afraid broccoli, be very afraid.

Cupcake time - yay!

"You sure you want that cupcake Griffin?"

Cole on his cot - notice the tape on his shoes. He keeps pulling the velcro and taking them off so this keeps him from doing that. It's so funny to see but definitely functional!