Emmanuel's 3rd Birthday--Part II...

It is our tradition to have a small family celebration with our kids in addition to a larger party with extended family and friends.  Well, I love to have an excuse to throw a party and surprise people.  I love to cook and try out new recipes...and I love to buy fun gifts that my kids can appreciate.  So, we made a day full of fun for the Birthday Boy!

Emmanuel woke up and used his brand new fishing pole to go fishing with daddy.

He came back home to his favorite breakfast...blueberry pancakes topped with strawberries...with three blue candles.  I was not planning on baking cupcakes for him since he was going to have blue spiderman cupcakes at his party the following week.  But, E took one look at his pancakes (and the candles) and said, "Mama, where are my blue cupcakes?"  I said, "E, you are going to have them next week at your party."  E said, "But, mom, TODAY is my birthday...I need cupcakes for my birthday today."  (Sigh...)

So, I began to make blue cupcakes for my high maintenance child...

He opened his Spiderman Bop Bag (A bag that you can punch...I am learning that boys like to punch...)

He had a treasure map to find gift #3, and we went all throughout the house to search for it....

He got a brand new hockey stick and ball...He really likes hockey!

Homemade egg rolls for lunch (again, high maintenance....)

And blue cupcakes....

And, finally, the gift to top all gifts...the cozy coupe police car (to satisfy his love of catching the bad guys!)   Reese enjoyed the police car just as much as Emmanuel...uh-oh...

We had a great, exhausting day as a family...and it was so fun to celebrate our little (big) 3-year-old.  Happy Birthday, Emmanuel.  We love you all the way to the moon (and Jupiter...and Saturn...and Uranus)....and back.

Emmanuel's 3rd Birthday--Part I...

Emmanuel turned 3 on July 2.  It is now September 26, and I am just now writing a blog about his party. 

I had a hard time with him turning 3.

It was like I blinked, and he started using complete sentences, and hitting baseballs, and making his own peanut butter sandwiches...he's just such a big boy.  I'm not a "baby" person...what I mean is...I don't LOVE the baby stage.  I'm not the type of person that has to hold everybody's baby...I don't save baby clothes...I don't long to change a poopy, newborn diaper (like Tori Spelling)...but when Emmanuel's birthday was about two weeks away, I got really choked up thinking about the amazing little 3-year-old he was becoming...and it seemed like it was just yesterday that he was a baby.

He's independent.  He's articulate.  He's got an imagination that makes me think he will write books or screenplays one day.  He's amazing.  And, I am so blessed and humbled to be his mom.

We had a fun time planning his Spiderman-themed party!  I was able to get a great deal at Backyard Bounce for a private party for up to 25 people.  It was such a blessing! We had his party on July 9 with friends and family.

Emmanuel was VERY involved in the party planning.  Emmanuel chose the menu:  Pulled Pork, Coleslaw, Beans, and Chips (if that's not a Southern Meal...I'm not sure what is).  He even helped make his blue spiderman cupcakes...we had some blue cupcakes and red cupcakes.   We had these for both of our celebrations.  

Here are some pictures from our larger celebration: 

An attempt at a group photo

Spiderman masks...one of the favors

Waiting to eat a blue cupcake!

Eating the blue cupcake!

Our new friends...love this family.  

Peeking with Mia. 

Hugging Jamiya...

Hugging Justice...

Reese glued to mama.

Aubrey and Danielle posing.

The babies trying to figure out what in the world is going on!

A huge thanks to everybody who made his Spiderman Birthday a huge success!   And now on to finding deals for the 4th Birthday Party Extravaganza (Yes, I am being serious...I start planning this far in advance...it makes the party much more afforadable...and I like big parties...so I have to start planning now in order to get the best deals...just thought I would ramble on about that!)

Fireman's Foam

Nashville is a great city for young families.  There are so many activities in and around the city for kiddos.  Between the amazing library programs, the parks and greenspace, and the pretty awesome elementary school we're zoned for...we are happy (most days) to call this country music loving city home!

About 6 weeks ago, we got to go to a Fireman's Foam in Goodlettsville.  The idea is that the firemen set up at a local park and spray foam on the kids.  There were a ton of kiddos at this event, and everybody was running around having a blast.

Reese was not into the foam at all (he likes things on his terms and I don't think he was quite ready for that)...and Emmanuel had fun in the foam for about 5 minutes.

What really caught his eye, however, were.....(drumroll please):  THE FIREFIGHTERS!  We just sat with about 5 other little boys that we didn't know and watched the firefighters clean up for about an hour.

And, of course, after watching them clean up for an hour, the other mamas and I made sure to ask for a picture with the firefighters.

We have the great opportunity to get up close and personal with firefighters a lot.  We happen to always see our local guys at Costco around lunch time and they let E get up in their truck and they always give him high fives...what a blessing.  I'm not sure how long this firefighter/emergency rescue phase will last (this started about when he was 18 months, and we threw him a firefighter-themed party when he was 2 with real firefighters and three real firetrucks...and he loves police cars, too, and has nicknamed Eli and I 'Policeman Dad, Policeman Mom"), but I sure am learning more than I ever thought I would know about our emergency personnel.

A huge thanks to all of those involved in emergency-related professions that help people and keep us safe everyday...a little 3-year-old and his 14-month-old copycat brother really appreciate your service.

And, by the way, Emmanuel has nicknamed Reese "chief" because, of course, every fire department has a chief, and well, in our house, Reese is "chief."