TO THE RESCUE!!

I just really love the fact that I am in charge of my kid's (kids' one day, but not yet) childhood and birthdays are a big part of that. Even though it was low key, I had so much fun planning his party and acting like he is the most important person in the world.

How cute is this invitation?? It is like he is actually pointing at YOU! ( he was making a hose to put out the fire, but whatever, it works)

*Note: There will not be a theme for the party next year because as soon as I finished the party planning, Anderson decided he really loves dinosaurs. Goober. He kept telling me, "I am NOT having a fire truck party, I am having a dinosaur party!"...the morning of the party....when I had already purchased a fire truck cake, firefighter hats, fireman plates and a large firetruck balloon...*

SPROUT lets you send in birthday cards & they choose some to show on the morning/evening show, so we made one for BUG! It was posted on the Sprout website and was probably on the morning/evening show, but we didn't actually watch them.

I really wanted to start some kind of tradition with this birthday because he is old enough to understand. So, I decided on a scavenger hunt to get a few little presents. Here are the 3 surprises. (My favorite is the dino egg because I rhymed it with our staple...patches!) He told my mom Georgie (the ghost) was bringing him a really cool surprise present (what??), so we told him this was Georgie's present. After he found the last one, he kept randomly opening drawers to see if there was anything left!

In a second year tradition, Brandon took him to Hobbytown to pick out a gift. He chose a huge bracchiosaurus. Then, we let him pick where he wanted to eat and he requested, "Zoe's Kitchen" even though he had never been there. He heard me talking about it (we ate at the one in Birmingham a few times). He ate a bite of pita and a grape, but sure loved his new dinosaur!

His picture with his bear! I cannot find the post to link to where he took his monthly pics with his bear and I have one at 1 year, 2 year and now, 3 years! Thanks, Aunt LoLo!

On his actual birthday, we had cupcakes to celebrate & he thoroughly enjoyed the icing.

Pretty good pic of the grandparents!! As Brandon pointed out, we are SO lucky that the grandparents live close enough that they can just drop by with on a Monday evening for a cupcake!

The party was the next weekend because I tried to stretch it at least a bit away from Christmas! I love nothing more than a goody bag. It was pretty easy/cheap to do because there were only 4 kids!

The firetruck cake! I got it at Ingles and despite the fact that he spent the 2 days before the party telling me that he wanted a dinosaur cake, he really loved it.

Pic from Bobble Cole.

Hanging up some decorations (aka .99 cent streamers). Also, we had BBQ that we got at Calhoun's and I will NEVER again attempt to provide my own food for a party because this was so easy. Let's be honest, I don't like to cook anyway and by the time I spend money on a bunch of appetizers, it is actually cheaper (and SANITY saving) to do it this way.

Lily, Sunny, Anderson and Jack!!

Some partygoers hanging out watching basketball.

Bop provided balloons for everyone, of course. I mean, is it real life that my dad is a balloon artist? Love it.

He took the candle situation very seriously. He was assessing his best plan of action in terms of attacking them, while we were singing.

Lots and lots and lots of presents! This boy is loved!! Thank you to everyone! He got all kinds of awesome dinosaurs, a soccer goal, a Matchbox garage, a tabletop air hockey, some new trucks, a LeapFrog writing thing, clothes (present for me!), books, a remote control snake (see below), an itunes gift card for dinosaur books/apps, games, these fun disk shooting things, parts for his Sonix city, etc. Loved, loved, loved! Lily was a true assistant and handed Anderson all of his gifts. She is such a good helper!

Uncle Curtis' gift was a hit! The kids were hilarious and kept chasing each other with it. How much do I love that Jack kept his fire hat on all day?? He is such a true BFF.

So grateful to have such good friends! *Pretend that Emily and Stella are in this pic, too...*

Bellies!! Clare is due in less than a month with Lucy!!! Nicole is due the end of Feb with Reese!! I feel so gigantic most of the time, until I stand next to them...ha, ha! Just kidding, guys!

All in all, it was a great day(s) and I am so appreciative that we so many wonderful people in our lives!