Michael's 3rd Birthday!

Michael's 3rd birthday was on Tuesday. He was SO EXCITED! On Monday I told him that this was the last day he was ever going to be 2, that tomorrow was finally his birthday. He could hardly wait! The first thing we hear from him on Tuesday, still in his bed, is "Today is my Birthday!" His day was magical.

We knew he felt like it was his magical day because he was smiling all day. Thats a big deal for this little guy who gets grumpy at naptime, or anytime you tell him to turn off the TV and actually play. Anytime someone said to him "Happy Birthday" he'd respond with "Happy Birthday!"

He watched TV as much as he wanted, including a Dora show on TV where it was the character Boots' "special day" and got to do what he wanted. I think Michael felt the excitement there and identified with it. He had Dora yogurt for breakfast, got to spend lots of time with Dad, and even helped me make his cake blue. For dinner we had, at Michael's request, french toast and regular syrup (I added some homemade apple syrup and fruit salad to the menu). He wanted a white heart-shaped cake with white frosting...and I convinced him he wanted some blue jello in it, which he was excited about. We used cool whip for the frosting, which was easy to do.

Here is the birthday boy with his cake!

Presents! It was finally time! Michael had asked for a blue belt to keep his pants up...so he was pretty excited about this 2-pack of belts despite the colors being brown and black (they don't make blue your size, Michael). He did a really cool dance thing with them, he was so excited.
Grandma and Grandpa had wrapping paper with the cars characters on it...and every time we'd ask Michael what he thought it was, he would say "a car". No cars, but lots of fun stuff!
This is his spiderman costume from soon-to-be-Uncle Dan. He was excited to wear it, mask included, until he saw himself in the mirror and got scared-and took the mask off right away.

It is a Vinton tradition that the siblings get presents, too. Grandpa got Eric a T-ball bat and some balls. Eric was glad, since he expected something. He told me earler in the day that if its Michael's birthday then he usually gets a present too. I told him that sometimes Grandpa does give a present to him on Michael's bday, but not to expect it, we'd have to see. Thanks Grandpa - you never disappoint a hopeful little grandson!
This is the boys playing with the toys. They immediately went to work on the Monkey Madness gears set to put together. Uncle Dan helped (aka put it together for them). Notice the new church shoes sitting on the floor--which hadn't moved since Michael opened them up and promptly dropped them on the floor and quickly went to open the next present.

I think Michael had a good birthday. He got quite the loot: roller skates, Dora memory, and Dora chutes and ladders from Grandma and Grandpa. Monkey madness, belts, and church shoes from Mom-O and Papi. A "working" vacuum from Mom/Dad and Brother. A spiderman costume and frizbee from Uncle Dan. What else could a kid want (beside the present we forgot to wrap up for him so I guess it'll wait until another time???)