It's Great To Be Three!

Pearson's 3rd birthday happened to fall on a Thursday during the first week that both his big brothers were in school. Unfortunately that meant that all birthday-specific activities had to wait until the end of the day.

However it also meant that he got Mommy to himself all day long. 

He started the day out right by actually getting to put money into the motorcycle ride that he hops on every time we go to the PX:

On our way out of the PX he was able to pick out TWO toys from his favorite store. Our next destination was the bowling alley where he got to eat his favorite lunch and play his favorite game:

Then it was time for his very first Mommy and Me Gymnastics class which was full of bubble stomping:

And bar hanging:

After picking up big brothers from school we spent the rest of the afternoon at the park where Pearson got to play on his favorite toy completely uninterrupted:

He spun until he was too dizzy to walk straight!

Finally Daddy got home and it was present time!

He's big enough now to open his presents all by himself:

But big brothers decided to be 'helpful' by figuring out exactly how the new toys worked:

The day ended with his birthday cake. Pearson was very, very, very excited to blow out his candles:

Reaching New Heights

Friday April 4th was a day off for B and McColley. Since it was NOT a day off for British kids we decided to take advantage and head down to Le.goland.

The best part of this trip is that Pearson is now over 0.9 meters tall! He could ride all the rides!

Our first chance to try out his new height abilities was on the Sky Ride:

Our next ride was Brayton's favorite - The Helicopters. All last year only he and I would go on it because Pearson was too short altogether and McColley was too short to ride alone. This was a problem because the ride is limited to two riders.

Guess who's now over the 1.2 meter height requirement to ride alone!

Our very last ride of the day was the firetrucks. B finally got to take a full truckload with him:

Pearson wasn't sure what to do at first:

But he quickly figured out that Daddy needed help more than brothers:

Our newly formed team of four won the race!

Tricks And A Treat Of A Night

Only a week(ish) late, here is our Halloween post!

On Thursday October 31st, McColley was allowed to wear his costume to school - he went as Capt. Jack Sparrow (the only issue being his lack of hair... we decided that Capt. Jack had his hair shaved in jail due to a lice outbreak):

Back at home, Brayton oversaw Daddy's cleaning out of all the pumpkins (yes, we had waited until the absolute last minute):

Due to Pearson's inability to draw simple straight lines, we decided his pumpkin would only be drawn on and not carved. He had a great time writing all over it:

Brayton, however, did draw a face:

And then oversaw Daddy's carving of it:

He was very proud of how it turned out:

McColley came home and only ended up having fifteen minutes to draw his pumpkin face before he had to go to an activity. Daddy carved his face and set out all the pumpkins while McColley was at his activity:

As soon as McColley got home it was time to go Trick-or-Treating. We changed Pearson into his costume when we arrived on base (where the trick-or-treating was being held). At first he was pretty unhappy about the whole costume thing:

But he warmed up to it pretty quickly:

After a few houses we let Pearson go up to the door with his big brothers:

It was then he discovered that Halloween is the BEST NIGHT EVER! You walk around and people give you candy!

Pearson wanted to keep trick-or-treating even after his older brothers started complaining about the cold. It looks like he has found his favorite holiday!

Look Who's Going To School Too!

Who is this young gentleman walking up to school for his very first day ever?

It's Pearson!

After two long years of having to take his big brothers to school and not being able to go himself, today was his day!

Pearson will be going to school every Thursday - luckily he has a big brother who is more than excited to show him the ropes.

News Bulletin: He's Now Two!

Today Pearson turned two! We decided to have a low key celebration for him, so we waited until after his big brothers' school day ended and Daddy could come online to have him open his presents.

Pearson figured out how to open his presents pretty quickly but his brothers REALLY wanted to help him:

And they actually got a bit more excited about some of them than he did:

In fact the excitement was so high that we had to move Daddy off the table and up to the buffet to make sure he wouldn't be knocked off the table:

With Daddy still watching I brought out Pearson's cake (which was my second attempt at baking/decorating):

Pearson didn't quite get what we were asking him to do when we told him to blow out the candle. Brayton actually blew it out first to show him what to do. We then re-lit the candle and let Pearson blow it out himself:

We did not, however, eat the cake at this point. Instead we had to take Brayton to his swim class.

Pearson didn't mind the delay because he got to play with his biggest brother:

Home from swimming, it was time for cake. Pearson didn't actually want to eat any cake though - there was toys to play with!

Grabbing A Moment

Today was McColley's last day of Kindergarten... and Pearson's last regularly scheduled day of "Mommy To Himself" time (at least until September). In celebration of this we found a place to watch the birds while having tea:

The was also the only part of the day without wind and rain. Luckily for McColley, while we were having tea, he was having an extra-long recess with his friends!

Getting To The Best Part

A bagel must always come with cream cheese for cream cheese is the best part.

If one liberally applies said cream cheese than one will barely notice the unworthy bagel underneath.

Or one could just forgo the bagel and get the cream cheese straight from the source.

Perfect.

Bus Stop Helper

In the morning Pearson is always very excited to walk McColley to the bus stop. He is then very, very helpful while we are waiting for the bus to arrive.

First, he points out all the cars (just in case we missed them):

Then he waves to the drivers to help them have a cheery start to their day:

As the wait drags on he finds ways to amuse himself and everyone else stuck waiting:

And finally he announces the bus' arrival:

See - helpful!

Vignettes From A Weekend

For what purpose does the bagel exists?

Why as a cream cheese holder, of course.

For the bagel does not delight.

But the cream cheese is adored.

*****

Where to eat Ore.os?

Well that was awkward.

Try again.

Much better.

*****

Three boys go to a birthday party.

The oldest one gets a mask and a spin.

The middle one simply gets a stick.

And the youngest one gets the present of uninterrupted bouncing.

Red So.lo Cup, Let's Have A Party!

Hmmm... Mommy handed me this giant cup.

 What is in it?

Well it tastes good!

The PhotoBooth Game

The toddler randomly hits buttons on Mommy's computer and opens the PhotoBooth application.

The toddler realizes he has done something that will make a red light flash on the computer.

The toddler realizes that he has enough time to strike a pose before the big white light flashes.

The toddler pushes the red button and then loses interest so the game is over.