Colby's Birthday

Colby on his birthday!  Colby got to wake up and open his presents before heading off to "school" for the day.  I always loved that Mom made our birthdays special and let us open presents before breakfast.  This is a tradition I'm glad to be able to pass on to my kids.  It's so worth it to see the smiles on their faces that early in the morning!

(It was picture day for Becky, so she was practicing poses!) 

Becky made Colby a Spiderman mask.  He was pretty excited to try it out.

No 3-year-old birthday is complete without a trip to Chuck E. Cheese!! 

Drake and Chase were able to join us there.

Al even let Colby sit on his lap to drive the car.  He thought he was pretty cool.

Talking on the phone.  Something Colby LOVES to do.

On that Saturday, Colby and I ran in the Beaverdale Fall Festival 5K and then sat with friends and watched the parade.

waiting for candy

Becky and Al walked with Northwest Soccer in the parade.  Becky had so much fun throwing candy to people and waving.  She was very excited that she saved two bracelets and fans just to give to us.  

Taking a break to have a drink of lemonade.

That Becky is such a poser.  I love it!!

Colby with his fan and his medal.

Then the following Saturday, we had a birthday party for Colby

Colby was very excited to get Hulk hands.  He wears them at least once a day and practices "smashing" things.  Yesterday he got to go pick out his Halloween costume.  He chose The Hulk.  He had to come home and try it on...complete with the hands.  It's going to be a fun Halloween!

Colby's cake.  It wasn't my best cake ever made.....but Colby loved it and that's all that really matters!

Colby blowing out his candles.  Becky put them on the cake, so they were pretty spread out.  He had no problem blowing them out though.

one.....

two.....

three!  

(and, yes, the big kids were a little bummed that Colby was big enough to blow out the candles on his own and they didn't get to help this time.  I think they got to help in Spencer, but just a couple weeks later and he had it figured out!)

What birthday party is complete without balloons and a picture by them?  

the kid table

and I love to get a picture of me and the kids each time they have a birthday.  I hope they always treasure them as much as I treasure the pictures I have with my mom.

And now that Colby is three....he is officially potty trained!  He has gone a week without having an accident. Yeah!  We are so excited to not have to buy diapers any longer.  Thanks to a great day care and wonderful teachers who are willing to help....we really didn't have to fight him too long.  He wore pull-ups for a month or two and then switched to underwear.  About two weeks of pooping in them about every other day...and he was done.  I did borrow the bribery idea from Brenda, though.  The first time he pooped in the toilet at day care, we went and picked out a toy.  I told him he would lose it if he pooped in his underwear. The next day, he went in his underwear.  I took the toy.  (and he had picked out the only toy he had wanted for his birthday that he didn't get.)  The next day, he went in the potty.  Got the toy back.  I only had to take the toy away three times before he started just going so he could keep that toy!  I'm not saying it's the best method, but I guess there might be something to figuring out what motivates your kids and using that to get the end result you desire!