Three Years Old!!!

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY MATTHEW!!!

Wow...I can't believe 3 years ago we were holding a newborn baby and wondering how we could love something so strongly after just meeting him. Now Matthew is 3 and has grown into a boy with a great sense of humor, kindness, gentleness, order and structure, and an awareness of all that is going on around him. He is also a sponge soaking in all the things to learn, hear and experience.

Friday night I decorated his door while he was asleep. He was SUPER excited, like didn't go to sleep until close to 11pm excited. "When I wake up it will be my birthday!"

That morning we got him a birthday cinnamon roll. (Excuse the number 9 candle, its the only one I could find). We enjoyed our breakfast together and some time jumping on his new trampoline that he got for his birthday.

This was just a warm up to the party we had at the Jumping Place!

Lots of Taylor's friends joined us on a brisk Saturday morning for jumping fun. Taylor got to snuggle with lots of people but found a place to finally sleep in his Papa's arms.

Ms. Karlie...this girl is one of my favorites!

Matthew playing at one of the basketball jump things. He was all over the place as I couldn't keep up with him when I was trying to check in with him.

Sometimes you just need a break.

Matthew's Radiator Springs cake. His Aunt JuJu made this. I asked him the night before what we were going to do at his party and he said "We're going to sit and wait for my cake." I think he was pretty excited about the cake.

Letting everyone sing Happy Birthday. Which he later sang to himself at home. 

Papa, Gaga and Taylor chilling and socializing

Shot of the party crowd. It was so nice to have everyone there supporting our little man.

Boy talk with Daddy and Uncle Mark

David's mom and Aunt Juju getting their Taylor fix

Cake eating time

Aunt Kiki, Uncle Mark and "BarbaLuke"

The best family shot we could get...full mouth of cake, Taylor looking a little overwhelmed...I'll take it.

Tiffany (aka...Andrew's mom)

Dave and Alyssa....this family will be missed as they are moving soon.

The Lehmkuhl boys

Let the present opening begin

The Paynes

Enjoying all the good stuff

We had lots of helpers that were fun to play with

Karlie and Matthew sharing some hugs

Daddy probably sneaking some candy

The aftermath!

What party is not complete without throwing on your cat hat

At this party, we asked that each of Matthew's friends bring a canned good in order to be able to donate them to the food pantry for the upcoming holidays. Service is something that David and I value and want to instill in our children. I was overwhelmed by the generosity of all those who came and am grateful for you supporting this lesson. We plan to take them to Caritas and let Matthew tell them he collected them at his party. It was a blessing to me when my mom asked him once before his party what we were going to do and he said "get food for other people who need it". You think they aren't listening.

Later that day after a nap for everyone we broke into the toys and transformed into Spiderman.

We took a chance to sport our boots around as well.

Matthew, you have grown up so much, physically, mentally and spiritually. You are my treasure and my favorite big boy. Not one day passes that you are not prayed for and your Daddy and I count you as one of the greatest blessing in our life. You crack us up on a regular basis, and can melt our hearts with the way you hug our neck, look deep in our eyes or just run up to us to tell us you love us. When I imagined what it would be like to be your mom I could never have imagined it as this much fun, challenging and rewarding. You will do great things and may you always know you have a safe place to land at home and you will always be the one who made me a mommy.

I love you you crazy kid!!!