Happy 3rd Birthday Sweet Eli!!!

Blowing out 3 birthday candles on spike the dino-cake! Make-a-wish!
Our waking up call this morning: Eli shouting "Snow, Snow, Snow" as he looked out his window! 
Rock star in the making!
Eli came down to this fun spread! Balloons, streamers, decorations, and presents! 
Tractor Heaven! This boy has a bit of the farmer in him! 

Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Eli, Happy birthday to You!  It is so hard for us to believe that our sweet miracle baby is 3 years old today! In the last week I have told Eli the story of "Baby Eli" many many times (he never-ever tires of hearing stories about the miracle baby who made our lives so spectacular!).  I have been pretty emotional all day thinking about the day we finally held that sweet little boy in our arms for the first time (after 39 hours of labor and 3 hours of pushing... did you think I wouldn't mention that? ha!). 

Eli had quite a day! He came downstairs to our dining room decorated with balloons, streamers and festive tablecloth, and a huge pile of presents (I am not sure he even saw anything else).  We had breakfast quiche (new family tradition) and opened presents while at the table (to keep Nate from jumping in them). We played, played, played all morning... and during nap-time as well! After nap we had dinosaur birthday cake and ice cream for snack (has there ever been a better snack).  We finished the day off with dinner at Chevy's and Eli got the star treatment with a sombrero and a birthday song! (to a 3 year old this is as good as it gets). 

We love this little boy more than words can ever say! Eli is as sweet as they come, with a loving soul and a generous heart! He has a wicked sense of humor and a sly and silly wit! Oh, how we love our Eli!

Bounce and Spin Pony (another adventure in the life and times of Crazy Nate)

Um... this is a GREAT example of my little maniac Nate! He is a crazy good time !

Nobody puts baby in the corner (famous line from dirty dancing)

So last night at dinner I jokingly told Sam that Nate wants  a t-shirt that reads "Nobody puts baby in a corner" (famous quote from dirty dancing... Sam had no idea what I was talking about). So Eli found this HI-larious and this is what he came up with on his own. 

The Pirate ship song goes oh so wrong

"When I was one I pooped on a tree"

So this song really goes "When I was one, I had some fun on the day I went to see". As a result of Eli's recent obsession with all things poop (seriously, little boys are so gross and funny), this is what he came up with all on his own. Joker. 

Can I get a 1, 2, 3

Here is my cutie-pie/smarty-pants counting with mommy. He can count to 10 all by himself but we like to do it together for practice! By the way, does Nate look more full-figured... I mean robust than normal? 

We LOVE the Indianapolis Children's Museum

Digger Nate working hard in the construction zone
Eli constructing a dam at the massive water-works table
Eli in Dinosaur costume in the dinosphere adventure area! He makes a great t-rex
Some of the amazing dino fossils on site. 
Nate crawling through the train tunnels in the giant train area! 

We went to the Indianapolis Children's Museum last weekend and had an amazing time! The boys loved the dinosphere area the most, and what is not to love with dino skeletons, digging for dino fossils, dino play areas and caves, etc... We also loved the train area (with a real train of course), the construction zone with diggers, pulleys, and dirt, and the enormous water-works area! What a great trip! 

Happy Birthday Pop Pop

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Pop Pop, Happy Birthday to you! We wish we were up on your mountain working on tractors and pick up trucks with you today! Love, Eli and Nate (milo too!!!!)