JARED'S THIRD BIRTHDAY
All day today, Jared didn't want to be three yet. I told him it was okay, he wouldnt' be three until 3:45 that afternoon. He seemed to get used to the idea by evening. And as any adult would appreciate on their birthday, he decided to stay in his pajamas until dinner time.
Grandma and Grandpa Lancaster, Uncle Brad, Uncle Scott, and Aunt Jennifer came to Jared's party tonight. Jared requested "macaroni and cheese with trees," which is homemade mac 'n cheese with broccoli mixed in. At Ryan's request, we added grilled chicken and bratwurst to the menu. But Jared didn't touch his food. He ate lots of potato chips with onion dip before I noticed what he was doing, then had an orange soda and his cake. Not too surprisingly, he got a tummy ache!
Jared usually just licks the frosting off of cakes, then scarfs the ice cream. So I decided to make him an ice cream cake instead of a regular one. It was entirely ice cream in the shape of a cake! I "frosted" it with tinted cool whip and chocolate cool whip, then we carefully created a construction site on top, complete with dump truck, bulldozer, and backhoe. They were pushing chocolate cool whip "dirt" and moving vanilla sandwich cookie "rocks."
It took Jared several tries to get the candles blown out, and afterward, everyone requested a piece from the other side.
Jared said he didn't want a piece, but I figured out that he wanted one with the bulldozer on top. He skipped the spoon and used the bulldozer to eat his "cake!"
Wow, when it was time for presents, it was like Christmas all over again! Jared certainly enjoyed the spotlight. Look at that pile of gifts! He got a talking apple that teaches the ABC's, some Little People vehicles, Little people zoo, a spiral racetrack, a bunch of Play-doh toys and tools from us. Uncle Scott and Aunt Jennifer brought him a fancy-schmancy tow truck with all the bells and whistles. Or should I say the lights and sounds! Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Brad brought him a Duplos Harold Helicopter (from Thomas the Tank Engine) that has a basket that he can crank up and down to deliver packages from the air. Along with a set of Melissa & Doug wooden food that he can "cut." Kate and Mitch had a set way back when.
Oh boy, did he go nuts when all the toys were out. I think he managed to play with everything tonight, even if just for a moment. He could hardly decide what to do first.
On the downside, he developed a cough this afternoon, and needed a breathing treatment after everyone went home. He was so exhausted, he went to bed with nary a complaint.