Joel's Third Birthday

It's only taken me a week to get this posted. I wish I had a good excuse but I don't, but at least I'm getting it done now. So Joel's third birthday was last Friday. It was a really fun day. However, by the time everything was said and done I was glad that it was over- TOO MUCH BIRTHDAY makes for a very cranky three year old.

So here's the recap:


The night before Joel's birthday Tj and I snuck into his room and decorated it so he'd be surprised when he woke up. I had made Joel his birthday banner while he played at Nama's house earlier. We think he was excited about his room although we were woken up by the sound of him opening his presents! Silly boy.


More of the birthday decorations. My friend Kimberlee always gets her daughter a balloon for her birthday. I thought it was a neat idea (since my boys NEVER get balloons). So Thursday night I sent Tj to the store to pick one up. He came home with these two. It was a good call because the boys have had SO much fun playing with them. The spiderman balloon is surprisingly still around. The other one was thrown away days ago. These balloons have provided HOURS of entertainment for the boys. Thanks Kimberlee for the idea!


I had made Joel these really yummy muffins. They have strawberries, bananas, blueberries, walnuts and nutmeg in them. They are SO good. So we had these instead of birthday cake for Joel's birthday this year. I put his three candles in his and before we even got finished singing he had blown out the candles. He was so proud of himself.


Joel was fortunate enough to have lots of people thinking about him for his birthday and sent him cards and gifts. He got some clothes, games (Chutes and Ladders & Candyland), plastic horses, sink with running water and a leapfrog recording toy. He was so excited about his gifts. He has really had a lot of fun playing Candyland. It's been fun teaching him how to play games. I am so excited to FINALLY have someone who will play games with me- even if they are juvenile games.


Friday night our ward at church was having an "Unbirthday Party". Joel had a blast. We played musical chairs, pin the tail on the donkey, there was a pinata and BIRTHDAY CAKE! It was the best way to spend his birthday (and I didn't have to do ANY of the planning).

Joel's turn at the Pinata. He had a couple good hits.

When we asked Joel what he wanted to do for his birthday we were not surprised when he said that he wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheese. (Actually his first request was to go to Mickey Mouse's house again aka Disney World but we told him that wasn't possible.) So his birthday celebration continued into Saturday when Pa was home and could go to Chuck E. Cheese with us. We had a nice time. Of course it was they typical crazy madhouse since it was lunchtime on a Saturday. But Joel and Vance had a really fun time. Vance was loving the music and spent the whole time dancing around anywhere he could. Joel got to open his present from Nama and Pa- the sink with running water.

Joel sporting his Chuck E. Cheese mouth.

So I think all in all Joel had a good third birthday. Balloons, muffins, candles, cards and presents all before 9 am. We had a playdate at the splash park with his friends, McDonalds for lunch, party and cake that night. And wrapping up with a trip to Chuck E. Cheese the next day. It was a great birthday. (But I was glad that I have three months to recoup before we do it all over again for Vance's birthday!)

Happy Birthday Dear Joel!

Today is my baby's third birthday. I cannot believe he is three. I know parents say that all the time. But really there are times I see my baby but those times are getting farther apart. He is truly becoming a little man. So here are some pictures for those who'd like to see them. And since at some point this will be made into a book for the boys I'm including a letter to Joel.



Dear Joel,
You turn three years old today. I am so proud of what a good boy you are. You have grown up so much this year. You are so loving to your family and your friends. Other kids are drawn to you and like to play with you because you are so kind. You are such a great big brother to Vance. He looks up to you and you are so loving towards and concerned for him. You and Vance are best friends and I am so glad for that. I hope you remain friends as you grow up. Of course you still look up to and love spending time with your Pa.
Your vocabulary and your imagination have both grown leaps and bounds this year. You speak in full sentences and love to tell stories and sing songs. You love to pretend. One of your favorite movies right now is "Man from Snowy River" and you love to pretend that you're Jim and riding a horse. You love to tell the story of Jim and Jessica and sing the song over and over again. You continue to enjoy Thomas the Train and all things involving trains but your horizons have been expanded to include Mickey Mouse, Elmo, Imagination Movers, Bob the Builder and even Spider Man. You had your first trip to Disney World's Magic Kingdom this year. You really had a lot of fun although you were just as excited to stay at a hotel as you were to go to the park.
You now can dress yourself. You can count to 15- with a little help from Mommy or Daddy. You know that Jim and Joel start with J. You are learning to swim and do really well with your life jacket and can even swim a little bit without it. As you turn three you are potty training and doing such a great job! You have given up the sippy cup and you no longer need the after-meal wash down. You are such a clean eater and when you do get food on you, you are quick to ask for a "apkin". You love cheese, chocolate milk, chicken, lemons, mangos- actually just about all fruit, fish and cheese sandwiches. Your favorite treats include jelly beans and jr mints. You are such a good eater though and will try just about anything.
Joel, your dad and I love you. You bring so much happiness and enthusiasm into our home. You literally walk with a bounce in your step. You have always been such a happy and easy going child and I feel so blessed to be your mother. Happy Birthday!

Love you!
Mommy

Skill sets, Mother's Day, and Potty Training.

So I feel like life is flying by. I know people are always telling new moms to enjoy the time because it flies by. This seems to be especially true lately. The boys seem to be growing up so fast. When we were at Disney World we bought them the little "toggles" that go into Crocs. It was one of the best moves we made. We bought each of them one and put them in their right Croc. It has made it a lot easier for the boys to put their shoes on. Joel can basically get himself dressed all by himself as long as there aren't buttons or zippers. Of course just because he can doesn't mean that he always wants to.
Vance on the other hand is Mr. Independent. He continues to amaze us with his vocabulary. He loves Elmo and anything cuddly. Tj has started giving him the nick-name "Linus" because he hauls his blankey everywhere with him. (It actually REALLY grosses me out.) He is teething like mad. And everything Joel does Vance wants to do too.

Joel put on my shoes and thought it was so funny.
Too bad we didn't have a toggle for my tennis shoes.

Of course everything Joel does Vance needs to do too.

Joel and Vance are best friends.
This is the best Mother's Day present I could ask for.
They woke up and after some coaxing from Tj I received a chorus of
"Happy Mother's Day!"
Then they helped Tj make breakfast
(well more like they dictated and Tj cooked).
So they delivered breakfast in bed consisting of whole wheat blueberry waffle with peanut butter and an egg white omelette with cheese and orange juice. It was really funny because Joel kept getting confused with his greeting and saying "Happy Birthday, mommy!"

(I told Joel to put his arm around Vance and he put him in a choke hold!)
So the boys are always doing funny things.
I love that they can play by themselves
and it cracks me up with what they come up with.
Tonight Joel found his rain boots and put them on.
Of course everything Joel does Vance needs to do too.
So they put their rain boots on and meandered around the living room.
(Notice their fantastic farmer tans!)
I think that I'm going to be given a run for my money with these two.


And finally! I guess third time is truly a charm.
We are on week two with potty training.
I always joked that I was going to wait and potty train Joel and Vance together.
Well what do you know?! We're potty training Joel and Vance together.
Joel is doing REALLY well.
Of course he has the benefit of the previous two rounds.
Joel is basically in "big boy underware" during the day.
He will tell us when he needs to do his business and will try to go when asked.
He is really doing such a good job.
I'm guessing he'll be completely done in a few weeks- maybe?!
Vance is doing pretty well too. Right now he basically will go when Joel does.
But he is still trying to figure it out.
He says he has to potty a lot but is about 50/50.
I figure by the time Joel is done then Vance will have practiced long enough.