Iphone Drop

Here is a random collection of my iphone pics.

We LOVE the numerous parks in our area.  If it is pretty, we are outside playing at one of the parks.
Getting ice cream with one of my favorite little guys after his flu shot.
My favorite big guy at Austin's birthday breakfast.
I am so blessed...

The Birthday party

We decided before the boys were born that their first birthday party with friends would be when they turned 3.  I know...kinda crazy to talk about before they are born but I told you I love birthdays and parties.  David...not as much.  He grew up a twin so he rarely had a party that was all about him.  He is not into them like I am.  He is fine with that...he loved sharing every occasion with his twin sister.  He has grown to love them a little more because he loves me but he didn't really see a point in having a big party when they were 1 and 2.  I didn't agree in the beginning but I do now.  The kids don't actually get it until their 3.  Austin got it this year and was all about it.  He couldn't wait until his little friends showed up.  We don't have a lot of friends in Boston but he loved having the few over who could make it.  In less than 1000 square feet, you can't fit a lot of people anyways.  It really was perfect.

We went with a train theme because as I said before, A is obsessed with planes and trains.  He loves riding the train (subway or T) throughout Boston.  I found a precious "print your own party theme" on Etsy and started printing away.  David thought I was a little crazy but it helps with the grief after Forrest's birthday.  Forrest's birthday is so difficult on me so I let myself grieve for a few days and then I dive into Austin's birthday preparations.  I spent many nights printing and cutting things out but I loved that my little guy would be thrilled when he saw all the train things.  

The wreath on our front door.

The sign on the back of the door.

The party favors
 
Chocolate chip cookies
 
Goody bags for the kids
The pictures birthday train along our hallway
The signs hanging from the light fixture in the den.
The banner leading into the kitchen (I forgot to take a picture of the banner in the kitchen but you can kind of see it in the background.)
The signs hanging from the light fixture in the playroom.
The food table
 
Blowing out his birthday candle
Opening presents

We were so glad David's aunt and uncle could make the party.
Our precious family

*Austin's train shirt was made my good friend Kacee.

3rd Birthday Extraganza

Long post so you are forewarned but the grandparents want to see pictures of the birthday weekend!

If you know me well..than you know I love birthdays!!!  I mean really love them.  I think they should be super special no matter how old you are.  I will still be celebrating my birthday big when I'm 92.  So its no wonder that I think my children's birthdays are one of the most special days around.  I love celebrating them, their lives, their future, etc.

We started the weekend (yes...I think you should celebrate more than just 1 day) by taking the boys to get Donuts.  We gave Austin a choice of pancakes made by daddy, breakfast at the neighborhood restaurant, or donuts at Dunkin Donuts.  He chose the donuts...he is definitely a mini David. =)

Had to show the curls on M...


After donuts we took the train to the closest Build a Bear Workshop.  Austin has recently become very attached to stuffed animals and we didn't have but 1 little bear that was given to us at a function so I thought he would enjoy building his own bear.
He loved it!  He picked out the bear...
 
stuffed it...

added a heart...

cleaned the bear...
 

dressed the bear...
 
and made him a birth certificate...his name is George =).

I love that he picked a Boston Red Sox uniform.  Perfect for our year in Boston.

After building his bear we walked around and enjoyed the sites of Boston.  That night we enjoyed dinner at a neighborhood restaurant.

On Sunday (his actual birthday) we had plans to go to early church and then come home to open presents and eat lunch together but the little rascal was so excited that he woke up nice and early before his mommy and daddy were ready for church.  It threw us for a loop so we unfortunately didn't make it to church.  He did enjoy opening all his gifts from his family.  
You can tell from the pictures that Austin is pretty obsessed with planes and trains so very fitting that majority of his presents had something to do with those themes.  My mom gave him a shapes airplane that Miller also loved.

She also gave him a Thomas the Train Airport with airplane.  He loved it.  She combined his 2 loves into one perfect gift!

David's parents gave him a build and take a part airplane and his very own log book.  As you can tell from the blog, Austin loves to fly with his Dingdad so these 2 gifts were very special because he knows his Dingdad spends a lot of time building and taking a part planes and the log book has written down every flight he has ever flown.  He was very proud of his log book.

The Spences also got Miller a light switch book. The kid loves light switches so it was perfect.
Two of our friends from Boston (Audra and Stephanie) couldn't make his party but were so sweet to give him a gift so he enjoyed opening those up that morning as well.  Audra and Sebastian gave him a clown whistle and paint your own train.

Stephanie and Remi gave him the book, Make Way for Ducklings which is based out of Boston.  Such sweet friends.

We gave him the bear, a small airplane, and a bike.

After terrible naps (should have seen that one coming) the boys played outside with daddy while I finished up preparations for the birthday party.

I will do another post of the birthday party.  My eyes are getting tired...fun but exhausting weekend.