E turns 3

Do you ever have a special event and then later look at the pictures and think, I took 5 pictures of nothing? Well we just celebrated E's third birthday and looking over the pictures that's about what his day looks like. Since it was on a Sunday, it was a pretty low key affair, but he seemed to enjoy it so I guess it works. Here are the handful of random pictures we took. 

 We started out with our now traditional doughnut game

 Then opened presents

 Like last year, we had all Lightning McQueen presents. I swear we have paid for all of Pixar's CEO's vacation homes.

 The cake

 E was so cute. He would tell everyone that he met that he had gotten a pirate ship cake for his birthday.

 We drove down to Grandma's after church to eat dinner and have cake, but when we got there E had fallen asleep in the car. The kid was dead asleep, he slept through 3/4 of his party.

 Miss H and Uncle Eric hanging out in the backyard

 E finally woke up to play with his uncles in the back yard. His uncles are his favorite!

Here we are with (a horrible picture of) E right before he blew out his candles. I look good though, so whatever. 

The next day Miss H had to hold E's balloons the whole time she ate breakfast. 

We are so lucky to have E in our family. He is definitely the spice of our lives. When he is sleeping or gone, things just seem downright boring. 

E has really grown up in the last few months as well. We just put in carpet **yeah!!! I'll post that later** When the man came to measure the rooms, E walked up to him and said in a crystal clear voice, "What are you doing, Sir?" I think my jaw hit the floor. And tonight I got on his case for bringing a cup of water onto the new carpet. He started crying and said, "Mom, don't get mad at me for that brand new carpet. It is ugly."  

E is just a strong willed, determined little guy. Sometimes I get super frustrated with him, but then I realize that he probably got it from me (and then I sit outside so that I don't beat him--haha). All in all, his natural tendency to be a fighter just makes it that much sweeter when we see him show gentleness as well as growth and maturity. We sure love this kid and know he was meant for our little family.