Happy 3rd Birthday, Caleb!!

Caleb has been waiting for his birthday all year. He would say, "I a March boy!" and eagerly anticipated being 3! His birthday celebration began on Saturday, Birthday Eve, when Melanie, Rhynnie, Elsie and Danke came to visit with gifts and cake!! He had so much fun ripping into his presents and having Melanie as a guest for dinner. We all went to bed anticipating his big day!

This morning, when everybody woke up, all the kids came and cuddled in our bed. We sang Happy Birthday to Caleb. He was so happy for his day to begin, but, now that the moment was upon him, wasn't quite sure he was ready to not be 2 anymore...a point of great pride to him. I told him that whenever he was ready to be 3, he could be, since it was his birthday. By the end of the day, he was quite pleased and proud to be 3! : )

Pre-church present!

Doodle Bug! : )
This was a dog. Two legs, ears and a belly. : )

Cousins standing and singing, "We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet," at Stake Conference today.
The Sechrists are in our Stake now!! The new Lancaster, PA Stake!

After church the Sechrists came back to our house for Caleb's "Birthday Party!" First hot dogs...not gourmet, but Caleb loved it!...with fruit and veggie trays for sides...including dill pickles and black olives...two of Cae's favorites! Then, presents. Then, cake! : )

Weed Wacker! Thank you Sechrists!
He loved it and tried to take it to bed with him! : )

Thank you, Grandma & Grandpa!!
Rescue Heroes! Pure joy on that sweet face! : )

He was a passionate and very efficient unwrapper this year! : )
Including the paper on his big gift...slot cars.
When we asked him what he wanted for his birthday, he said,
 "race cars that go weally fast on a woop" and that's what Jared got him. : )
Sadly, no C batteries in the house, so he had to wait to play with them.

Rescue Hero number 2! He played with them the rest of the afternoon!
He LOVES the motorcycle and its cool shields! : )

Cake Time

Last year we realized that we hadn't really prepared Caleb (our first bday of the year) for the traditions of the celebration. When we lit the candle he cried and was so confused why we set his cupcake on fire!! : ) This year we tried to do a better job of letting him know what was coming and making sure he was ready. Still, while he loved the singing, he thought it was too loud. After a couple of times of singing to him...Saturday night and Sunday morning...by the time it was cake time today, he knew just what to do. : )

This year, Caleb asked for a "freezy cake." I'm not sure how he knew they even existed, but I searched around on Pinterest and then put this little GF ice cream cake together. : )
A layer of GF chocolate cake, a layer of vanilla coconut milk ice cream, a layer of homemade whip cream...made with homemade unrefined powdered sugar, then, strawberries and homemade magic shell. It was super yummy!

He was so proud that he got the candles out!

Yum!

Cousins! Our house was filled to the brim with CUTENESS!
Thanks to the Sechrists for celebrating with us today!!

Happy, happy birthday to my beautiful Caleb boy! He brings SO much joy to our family! I feel so blessed by his sweetness, smarts, super funny sense of humor and love. Today, I whispered in his ear, "Happy Birthday, Caleb boy, I love you!" He snuggled up and whispered back, "Happy Birthday, Mom." 

Thank you to everyone who sent cards, gifts, phone messages, emails, FB messages and love! He had such a special day!

Found this guy "helping" me, by "cleaning out the cake pan"...with his tongue. : )
Had to get a pic of that chocolaty face! : )