Eli's Birthday!

Wow, this past week has been so busy and so fun!  We had a visit from Jeremy's cousin Wednesday and Thursday, Friday was Eli's birthday, then that night we drove to Columbus and stayed with another of Jeremy's cousins.  Saturday morning we went to the temple, then we met up with our dear dear friends who live in Kentucky and spent the day in Columbus with them, then we drove home that night, then Sunday we had early choir practice and the choir sang, and then we all crashed and took a 3-hr nap after church.  Whew!

So there's lots to blog about but I'll start with the birthday boy.  Eli is 3 years old now!  He keeps asking, "Am I still three?"  Eli was very excited about his birthday this year.  It was really fun to have him know what it was and anticipate it.  Ever since Connor's birthday last month he's asked me (almost daily), "is it my birthday today?  how many days 'til my birthday?"  So when the long-awaited day came, he was ecstatic!  We let him open one present the night before when Jeremy's cousin was here.  He got some new legos!

Every morning Eli wakes up way too early, usually around 6:30, and he goes out in the family room and plays legos.  Every single day.  He knows Mommy and Daddy don't get up until 7, so he plays quietly by himself.  It's very cute.  So we got him some more (more hand-me-downs from Jeremy's lego days) and let him open them the night before so he could play with them the morning of his birthday.  That's also one of the only times he can play with them, since Connor likes to eat legos. :)

Eli's birthday was a busy day, but a fun one.  Once we were all up, I made french toast for breakfast - at his request.

 We ate our delicious breakfast and then it was time for presents!  He was very excited.  Can you tell?

 New water bottle

 BYU Basketball from Grandma & Grandpa.

 New hat for the summer time from Grammy and Papa.

I had to throw this in there too, it's just too cute.  We were rearranging carseats, and Connor was very excited to be inheriting Eli's carseat.

 Jeremy stayed home all day Friday, which was a real treat for Eli.  They played legos some more while Connor napped in the morning and he also helped me make his chocolate cupcakes!  I love that smile!

We had some fun with the frosting and sprinkles.

After naps that afternoon we headed over to a nearby park and met up with some of his friends.  I wasn't calling this a birthday party, more just a playdate with cupcakes, and I told everyone not to bring gifts, but no one listened.  I feel bad, I really didn't want people bringing things (especially since he got plenty from grandparents), but Eli was very excited of course, and we were very grateful for the thoughtful presents.  He seriously loved every single one of them.  So the kids played, ate cupcakes and watched as Eli opened his gifts.  It was a day of ups and downs - something about birthdays makes a kid a little emotional I suppose.  So we had a couple meltdowns along the way, but all in all, it was fun!

 Rainier and Eli (and Rulan in the orange jacket)

 Hayden and Eli.

 Oooh bubbles!  Annabelle, Rainier, Rulan, Joey, Eli, and Hayden mid-stride.

Then we headed over to Jeremy's school for dinner.  Nearly every Friday they have free dinner for the Tepper students & their families, so we usually do that.  Eli likes it because all of his friends are there.  In fact, everyone who came to the park was a Tepper kid. :)

After dinner, we headed home to grab a few things and then we drove the 3(+) hours to Columbus!  It was an eventful day.  We stayed with Jeremy's cousin there so we could go to the temple the next morning.  More to come about Columbus and the days before Eli's bday...