Yesterday we had several of our friends and their families over for a swim in our neighborhood pool and then a barbecue. Unfortunately, poor Mr. Spencer had a pretty nasty poison ivy rash/sore on his leg, so he had to stay home. (Talk about a sad way to begin your summer vacation!) Misty, Addy, Tess, and I stayed home to keep him company. We also played some Phase 10 Twist, where Spencer began to see that I take after my mother in that I TAKE NO PRISONERS when it comes to playing games. (Okay, Spencer was giving me a run for my money... but I'm pretty sure I could have won if everyone hadn't come home in the middle of our game.)
Anywho, it was a pretty warm day, but not Man, I Want To Die I'm So Hot, so we all headed outside and enjoyed freshly grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, and a rather extraordinary assortment of side dishes that my friends brought. (My friends? Awesome cooks.)
At this point you might be wondering why I don't have any pictures of Cole up yet.
To this I answer, have you seen Cole lately? The child does not hold still. He's always running to or from some sort of mischief.
Also, I forgot to take any pictures specifically of him. Because I'm a wonderful mother.
But I did get this one of Tess eating a pickle!
A note to Mr. Grown-up Cole In The Future: No, I do not love your sister more than you. It's just that on this particular day she was way cuter while eating than you. You just kept wandering around, eating Cheetos and spilling those gross fruit drinks you and your brothers loved so much.
After dinner I decided I should get some actual documentation of the families who were there with us. I didn't even attempt to get pictures of all the kiddos there - I know my limitations! (There was a combined total of 13 kids there that night!) But I did get some shots of the couples.
This is a lovely shot of Paul, who would not cooperate at first. I warned you, Paul!!
Here's a slightly better one! (Sorry guys - I swear I thought you both had your eyes open! Oh well - next holiday.)
Craig and Gigi Ream - aren't they so cute together? (I'm so glad you didn't have to work, Craig!)
Don and Heidi Fry - they're way cute, too. And check out Don's shirt; it's funny 'cause it's true. I can't believe Don is done with school and they're moving this summer. Even though we've known the Fry's for something like 15 years, it feels like they just got into town... See, this is the problem with living in a university town - you make all these great friends and then they just leave! Without any thought to how you feel about it! Bah! But this is a rant for another post...
What I should be talking about is Cole. Instead, here's another shot of Tess. Gigi took it while I was running away from a bee who was in love with me. Seriously, in the space of two minutes the dang bee landed on my glasses - twice, my hair, my arm, my shirt, and then followed me as I ran away from him. Stupid bee.
I wanted Gig to take a picture of just Lance and I, but Tess had other plans.
But look! Through the magic of Picassa you can't even tell she was there!
We eventually gathered everyone inside to sing Happy Birthday and eat cake and ice cream. Cole was super cute about the whole thing. And by super cute I mean he didn't really know what to make of it all. Oh, he knows all about birthdays and blowing out candles and such, but I think he was a bit intimidated by the number of people looking at him all at once. It's a pretty cute video.
And now for the cake. Was there any question that it would be ABC themed? I had bought a alphabet chocolate mold with the idea that I would make different colored chocolates and put them all over the cake. But on Sunday night, as I made the chocolates, I sadly realized that the kind of chocolate I bought seized up if I added coloring. Dang. It. So I quickly brainstormed my options and came up with the idea of putting sprinkles at the bottom of the mold and them pouring the white chocolate on top. It worked! I just wish I had had a ton of one kind of sprinkles, rather than the motley assortment I found in my cupboard.
But no worries - because Cole was sweet enough to Lurve his cake. He loved that his name was on top. And he LOVED that "END" was in bright yellow. (He never mentioned that "Mommy" was also there. Punk.)
In fact, it's a good thing this cake had to be refrigerated, because then I could keep it in our downstairs refrigerator, which has a child (read: Cole) lock. (It was a jell-o poke cake with whipped cream frosting. Probably one of the best cakes I've made in quite a while, if I do say so myself!)
Wait!!! It's a picture of Cole in his birthday post! And he's trying to read the letters on the cake! And sneak a taste! How very fitting!
It must be mentioned that the kids all got regular store-bought chocolate ice cream, but the adults got homemade strawberry. Made with fresh, Indiana-grown strawberries. So. Yummy. We fed the kids first, kicked them all outside to eat, and then stayed inside and hoarded the ice cream, kinda like addicts.
No one felt the least bit guilty.
I love my friends.
We decided to save presents for Cole's actual birthday (today). So after dinner we let him open them up. And by let him I mean I had to force him to sit in his chair and open the first one because he didn't want anything to do with the gifts, he wanted to go outside and run around - at least until he realized there were toys inside those wrapped packages!
Please note that, yes, he is wearing the same shirt as the day before. That boy LOVES his Thing 3 shirt. I normally don't let him wear it two days in a row, but it's his birthday and it made him so happy!
Tess, Spencer, and Josh got Cole some foam letters and numbers for the tub. Way excited.
Josh had to help him open the next gift because all Cole wanted to do was open the foam letters.
An animal alphabet book from Grandpa ElRay and Grandma Susie! Way excited again!
And finally - a Word Whammer from Mommy and Daddy. WAY WAY excited!! Please note the first word he spelled.
Now we have three sets of LeapFrog alphabet magnets for our kitchen. Aren't we the lucky ones? As Spencer said, it was a Fridge Magnet Frenzy! Cole was so very happy. (Score!)
Oh Cole. I love you so very much and am so happy you are in our family. You certainly give me a run for my money, but you also make up for it with cuteness. And smarts. Because, seriously, you just turned three. Quit reading and spelling - it's freaking me out.
I love you, Thing 3!!
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