Collin's 3rd Birthday!

 A couple of weeks ago, my Friday the 13th baby turned 3! 

(But if you ask Wegman's, his birthday was March 2. Shhhh! We just couldn't wait any longer to get him in that kid's club! :) 

He has been fairly obsessed with firemen for some time now, so we decided a {Fireman} themed birthday party was in order. Even more appropriate given that he has been my little firecracker since he was born!!

(My first Photoshop creation! Thanks to Rach for teaching me! I feel like I just joined the 21st century.)

It all began with a little fire in the bbq... :)

 And turned into this.... 

It was fun to make everything cute, but in hindsight I think this is the last time I'll do something so elaborate. I kind of wish I had just made the WHOLE day about him, instead of putting him off most of the day to make the 2 hour party come together. I wish I had given him my attention for his whole, special day. Oh well, lesson learned. ... hopefully. I may need to reread this post come next year! 

He was pretty darn excited about the party though. 

 I had originally wanted a "Pin the badge on the fireman" sort of game, but couldn't find one, so then I decided on a "pop the balloon to get the candy" game. But the plastic darts were a flop. They eventually took to just stabbing the balloons with the dart. It all felt a little violent, but there was adult supervision so we're good, right?!

 Then we played "Hot Potato" to the tune of the fireman song from the Kidsong's DVD, "When I grow up.." Once, again, maybe not the best idea to throw a solid potato to a 3 year old who can't catch. Thus, we rolled the starch along, albeit with misgivings, as each child seemed to want to hold it lovingly forever.

 The final activity involved becoming a {real} fireman. 

I set up an obstacle course in the backyard where they were supposed to run and put on their fireman hat, go down the slide, crawl through the tube, climb over the "mountain", aka table, jump down, pick up the "hose", aka squirt bottle, and put out the "fire", aka strips of crepe paper hanging from the windows of a Build a Bear house. 

 I also put in a toy frog in one of the houses that they were supposed to "rescue"! You can see it in Collin's hand. 

It was a bit chaotic but the kids ate it up! Especially Collin. He was in HEAVEN. His dreams were literally coming true. If only he could have done it all afternoon he would have been a happy boy indeed. 

 Finally, it was time for cake and ice cream! Didn't my cake turn out fab?! I really worked hard on it. :) Well, it was kind of hard handing over $27 to Wegmans, but in the end, I'm so glad I did. It was divine (their new buttercream frosting is actually worth cottage cheese thighs) and elaborate, AND there was an actual toy firetruck that he was tickled to have.

 Just look at that face!!

It only soured momentarily when, after the singing, Gavin dove in and promptly wiped out all his candles! What are friends for?!

 A quick relight, and he was back in business.

 I think my biggest regret is that I didn't get a group shot!! Argh! What was I thinking?

So here is his best bud, Gavin.

 And his favorite girl, Kadence.

Can't forget his girlfriend, Rachel, and little brother. :)

 You can see the back of Ryden and part of Crew down below. Ragen and Kennedy also came! It was a good group of kids. 

 Time to open presents! Gavin got him a pretty cool firetruck that he was stoked about. He also loved Crew's gift... a super hero cape and mask! Apparently he loves to make capes out of towels in nursery, so Kate knew he'd love it! (Kate and Doug Messick are his nursery leaders... lucky ducks! :)
A couple of days later Trav and I realized we never gave him OUR presents. Not that they were anything special. Oops. I don't think he noticed. He was WAY more excited to go to the $1 store on his birthday, when I had to grab a couple things, and I let him pick out 5 toys. Seriously, I will be sad when he thinks $1 store toys aren't cool anymore.

 The next day, Grandma Evans's package came... a remote control firetruck. I don't think he's stopped playing with it since it came. Later, when he was playing with it, Travis asked him, "Who gave you that toy?" and without hesitating he enthusiastically replied, "My friend, Grandma!" 

She also sewed him some {Cars} pajama bottoms and a pillow case that he sleeps with every night now!

 And Lori (Paula's friend that is now part family) sent a belated gift for Weston. How'd she know? He seriously loves that bunny. His face immediately lit up and he had to nuzzle it. Thanks, Lori!

This kid is something else! I think this picture pretty much sums up his personality!! He is CrAzY! And fun and has tons of energy and loves life! 

He is my shadow and my helper. Whatever I'm doing, he wants to be right in the middle of it. If I'm on the phone or talking to someone else, or just not giving him enough attention, he fixes that real quick by hurling himself horizontally into my lap, then promptly spinning circles while flailing his arms. He is rarely still!

 He loves to play school and constantly asks me if he can "learn his letters" and is also subsequently finding letters everywhere and pointing them out to me. Whether he gets the letter right or not, is a different story! :) 

He loves to play with/ torment his little brother. He may take his toys away constantly, but watch out if someone else tries! Gavin took a toy from Weston last Friday and Collin flew over to grab it back, while vehemently scolding Gavin, "Don't you take toys away from MY BROTHER!!". But of course, Weston loves Collin no matter what he does!

He is not into praying (how do I fix this?!), but does love nursery. 

If he sees an ant or bug, that ant or bug just took it's last breath. What could be more fun than stomping on an ant or stabbing a worm with a stick?! Believe it or not, I didn't teach him that! I'm actually usually trying to tell him that that poor mommy worm would just like to go back to her kid worms. 

He spends "time out" on the top step of the basement stairs, with the door closed. 

He is the PICKEST eater. However, he's also been know to lovingly tell me, "That was a 'licious dinner mommy! Thank you!" as he hops down from the table, after half an hour of begging/threatening/forcing him to eat even the smallest bite!

He loves to play dress up and it doesn't matter if it's a tiara and heels or a fireman hat and boots. We get lots of pic messages from friends when they're watching him, with him in a dress with a wand or something, just to torment Trav! I think it's pretty funny.

 He wants a band aid for every bump or possible hang nail. I don't know how many times I've said, "Band aids are for blood. You are not bleeding." This week after legitimately scraping his knees and actually needing a band aid, his voice quivered as he acknowledged, "I'm bleeding! My body is... leaking!" 

I'm still trying to figure out how I can transfer all his energy, but life sure isn't boring when he's around!

And boy do I love him! Happy 3rd Birthday, Collin!

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