HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE BUDDY!!!!

Today you turned 3 years old! WOW!!!!

The day started with you waking us up around SIX a.m....(this hasn't happened in ages!)...and your dad and I singing Happy Birthday to you and kissing you for about 2 whole minutes!

You opened a couple of presents, and a short time later, Grant, Vicki and Maggie came over to spend the morning with you! Grant brought you some awesome balloons, which you enjoyed all day. You and Grant proceeded to bake chocolate cupcakes to help celebrate the joyous occasion! It was really, really cute...and may I add, Aunt Gigi will have some baking competition! Then you both moved some dirt around in the backyard and made sure all the toys were in good working order!

More presents throughout the day...lots of kisses and more singing of Happy Birthday and Old Mc Donald..The fun never stops around here!

You went to bed at 7:15...with a huge smile on your face and I hope, knowing how much you are loved...

I am so, so lucky to have you in my life O...

Oh....and here are the pics!

Once Again....Chocolate!

It's True!

The shoes DO make the outfit!

Just Photos From Today...

New Park!

Ummmmmm....

I don't know WHAT he did...but this is how he looked when we met in the hallway...Oh the mysteries...

Birthday Party!!!

A couple of weeks ago we went to Robyn's birthday party to help her celebrate the BIG day! The kids played with the sprinkler, bounced on a bouncy thingy and were completely blown away when Cookie Monster showed up...(A total TROOPER, may I add...as it was 174 degrees that day...and all that fur must get HOT!!!)...

Here are a few pics...

Today's Adventure...

Around 9 a.m., we headed over to Lily and Piper's house, so we could go see the new house their parents are building, off somewhere 30 minutes from here on the South Hill...We transfered the car seat to Tanya's new minivan, (which, although I don't particularly see myself getting one, I will admit that it was quite the ride...I bet they had moms involved in the design as it's very user friendly...well, except for the fact that it is pretty much impossible to hand anything to your child in the back...but then again, maybe one should never really do that, since one should always have their eyes/attention on the road...but then we also should always do a lot of things that we rarely do...)...and headed out of town. GASP!

The property they bought is RIGHT next to the river...and RIGHT next to a horse boarding place! It's a child's haven! First on the list was feeding the horses...
Lily was a complete pro...O stood about 50 ft. back and threw the carrots and apples in the general direction of the beasts!




I'll admit that even I was a bit cautious around these animals...they take a bit getting used to! We also visited the barn, and O didn't care for this one bit...it was the only time he asked to be picked up and held...and he buried his face in my hair...Then, when I put him down, he headed for the safety of the entrance!



After hanging out there a while, we crossed the grasses and as Tanya called it, "bushwhacked" our way to their house!




Once at the fabulous casa, we toured every square inch available, and then headed out to the patio overlooking the river where Lily and O had some snacks and threw rocks into the river...




After all that hard work, O took some time to contemplate his existence on this beautiful planet, and how lucky we are to have such wonderful friends!

Caught!

"Pffftttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt"

O: "What was THAT?"

Me: "I tooted"

O: "WOW Mom! You are good at tooting!"

I couldn't stop laughing...I almost peed my pants!

Bike Ride...

Yesterday we decided to leave the messy house with its never ending demands for cleaning, and head out for a bike ride. We drove up to Nine Mile Falls and rode our bikes on the Centennial Trail for 10 miles. It was really, really beautiful and except for one small incident of almost running over a dog, we had the trail all to ourselves...

Gum...

I believe it would be safe to say that my father hates gum...I also believe it would be safe to say that in his adult life, which constitutes 50 years, (give or take a few), he has probably not had ONE piece of gum in his mouth...So I grew up rarely chewing gum when I lived at home, and if dad saw me or my sisters chewing it, he would immediately demand that we get rid of it. (Let me add for clarity that "get rid of it" meant in the garbage, not on the table for later enjoyment).

And so, some weeks ago, I come home and find O chewing. "What are you eating?", I asked..."Gum", he proudly answered. I felt my knees go weak. Apparently O had seen some on the counter and asked Joe for it, and logically, Joe gave it to him.

What I find interesting about this story is my reaction to O chewing gum. It was a completely reactionary reaction to something that I had honestly not given any thought to. I just immediately "GASPED" when my almost 3 year old was chewing gum...and not because I necessarily see anything wrong with it, but because it had been ingrained in me that children should not chew gum! (Dad, aren't you proud?)

And so, every now and then O will ask for a piece of gum and I will give it to him...and I sit and watch him enjoy this little treat...

Happiness...

After a week away, Joe came home! O and I headed out to the airport and anxiously waited for his plane to arrive...O was really cute and played with his plane...Then he saw Joe and gave him the best hug! Welcome home!!!

Off To Work...

O walks down with toilet paper around his neck.

Me: Hey! What's that around your neck?

O: It's a tie. I'm going to work!

Ha!

This mornings musings...

I asked O what he wanted for breakfast, and his answer was "Tortellini", as usual. I informed him that I was not making Tortellini for breakfast, but that I would be happy to serve him oatmeal with fresh strawberries/bananas...or and egg/toast or yogurt/fruit. He frowned and insisted on Tortellini. I smiled and let him know it will be a surprise.

I placed the bowl of oatmeal on the table, and called him. His disappointment was immediate, and he informed me that he doesn't like oatmeal. I said that I didn't know that he didn't like oatmeal, and that I would keep it in mind for tomorrow's breakfast. I also added, that since he was not going to eat the oatmeal, I would. I placed the bowl in front of me and took a bite. He frowned. I said, "MMMMmMMMMMMMMMMMM this is the best oatmeal I have ever made! I'm a genius!"...I offered him a bite, and he immediately took the bowl and ate EVERY. LAST. OAT.

:-)

Then he asked for an egg and toast, which he is devouring as we speak.

Baking a Cake!

As usual, the quiet means O is busy on a project, (usually involving toilet paper...)

This one at least required minimal clean-up!

Groovin'....

Yesterday was the last class of Music Together...it was really fun and O was getting down!