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.