the Zoo!

Little Man turns 3!

Happy Birthday Benjamin!  Our little Man turned 3 this weekend and although we didn't do an excellent job capturing the weekend in photographs, we had a few good ones to show you. :) 

Benjamin got to begin his celebrations a couple weekends ago with a joint cousin party.  Jonah Audrey Reuben and Benjamin all have spring birthdays, so we pump them full of sugar in one big family celebration (I think I already posted those pictures?!) 

We also decided to have a small party with some of his friends around the area.  Last year we defined simple, and told him it was his birthday at Hickory Park and got him a few balloons.  2 is so pure.  No expectations and pure glee over 4 balloons shared with family friends and barbecue. :)   I think 3 could have been equivalently easy, but my mother hen emotions kicked in and I worried about him being scarred from not having a party, or pictures of parties.  And although I am kind of proud of our minimal toys and simple ways, I got sucked into materialism and wooed by his big blue eyes that light up at the sight of balloons, or parties, or others toys...My point is, we didn't repeat his 2 yr mile stone...

We didn't define simple this year, but we also didn't go as crazy as we did his 1 yr party.  When I say we, I really mean I.  It started off being a uber simple park play date with cake, but bad/cold weather and high winds cancelled that.  So we made the call to switch to our basement, which is thankfully big enough and finished enough to work well for such occasions.  Thursday I grabbed a $7ish  party pack from Target to make the room festive and therapeutically cleaned up a bit.  (Daddy was gone that night, and bed time was slightly traumatic and when retail therapy isn't possible, de-clutter therapy just has to do!)  We had a few friends over Friday morning, with cake, a few failed pre-school games (musical chairs, duck duck goose...) and a few super generous gifts.  Benjamin and Violet are on the tail end of colds, so they weren't as high energy as I had hoped, but fun was had by all...or at least most. :)

We cancelled our plans Friday night (sadly not making it to a pre-wedding dance!) and went to bed early, in an attempt to get healthy and get ready for a big Saturday - and a big day it was!

I woke up at 4, with pre-wedding hair jitters, and Benjamin cried out and made it into bed with us at 5.  I stopped trying to sleep at 6, and was at church at 7 to do hair for my friend's wedding.  After hair, I scooted to Walmart to grab a few last minute things for Benjamin's birthday.  We had a late breakfast with a friend and her fiance in town, and then came time for presents (I must note that Joel got an insanely amazing breakfast ready, while taking care of both kiddos and entertaining guests.  super man!)  Then came time for presents.  You can see in the pictures, his fun road carpet square, his bug searching kit, and new watch.  He had a good morning.  Then we tricked the kids into nap time at 10:15, so we could get them up at 11:15 and make it to a wedding by 12.  It worked.  I still can't believe it!

After the wedding and before the reception we made a quick stop at McDonalds to drop off birthday boy with papa and nanny for time time one on one time...or i guess 2 on 1 time :).  Then after the reception Violet daddy and I met them back at the house to find him playing with his new golf club set, just his size :)  (Nanny and papa got him one at the party a few weeks ago, but it was a bit too big! He made me laugh this morning. He loves this golf game I have on my iPod, and I told him he couldn't play it.  He said "can I just pretend with my other clubs. :) He pretends to play pretend golf with his real clubs?! :)  We're also excited to spend some birthday money from Great Grandpa Earp and Grandam and Grandpa Lewicki.  With all of our travels coming up the next three months (Dubuque, MO, MN and VA), we might hold off and get a pre-travel present.  Win for Benjamin, and Win for Momma :)

Then, as if we hadn't eaten enough in the last 30 hours, we made one last birthday trip to our favorite Mexican restaurant to finish celebrating the day with two college guys Joel meets with regularly.  And with the help of a coupon and partially full tummies, we fed a ravenously hungry Drew, Momma Daddy and both kiddos for under $20.  Win Again!

Then came bedtime for all!  

We love you Mister Benjamin.  Thanks for a fun day!