3 and a 1/2 years

Half birthday time around here again!  Technically JA's half birthday was yesterday but we had a busy schedule and he of course didn't have a clue that we celebrated a day late.
I always keep things super simple but the kids really do love all the little touches of fun.  I covered the couch, that JA loves to watch morning cartoons on, in balloons for him to discover in the morning.  Always a hit.

The balloons made there way to the backyard not long after breakfast and provided some serious entertainment (even when they flew over the fence to the neighbor's house)!

AL had to go and get her immunizations so all the "birthday" celebrations made for some good bribery to add to the situation.  We lucked out and Grandma joined us for the fun!
AL was so brave and didn't even cry.  JA was so worried for and held Grandma's hand super tight with a look of concern on his face all during the immunizations.  He sure does love his sister.

We headed out for a little birthday lunch/celebration of bravery afterwards. 

AL declared that her owies felt completely better after lunch was finished!

JA could spend every waking hour of the day outside if I let him and so we were pretty happy to see the sun shining after the last few days of rain.  The kids spent the afternoon playing in the yard, helping me water and weed the gardens and making mud pies.
I managed to convince JA to pull himself away from the dirt and lady bugs in the yard to come in and decorate his cake (after a good hand washing of course ;)
He had the best time decorating his half cake with "dirt, worms and rocks"!  It made for some great and messy fun as he created his masterpiece.

The kids spent the entire evening riding bikes with the neighbors, truly a favorite past time.
Before bed JA led us in singing Happy Birthday!  He really had himself a great day.

At 3 and a 1/2 years our Buddy:
- is still obsessed with cars, trains and fire trucks
- he can tell you what direction to drive to get to the fire station from several kms away in any direction and knows exactly where all the train tracks and LRT tracks are on the south side of the city
- loves his sister more then anything.  Truly best friends.
- is still a pretty shy little guy
- has a strange anxiety over riding in elevators
- has come leaps and bounds in the speech department and we are looking forward to the progress he will make in the fall with even more help
- has a great sense of humor and loves to make us laugh
- still not a huge fan of church ever since he graduated from nursery
- is still a tiny little guy and barely cracks the growth charts
- is just the sweetest little boy
We sure do love our little Buddy.