Happy 3rd Birthday, Ethan!

Today is our sweet Ethan's 3rd Birthday!

I know people always say this, but I really can't believe he's 3 already.

We began the day by having one of his favorite breakfasts.

We had cinnamon rolls, eggs, bacon & fruit.

Ethan was so happy to finally be 3.

For weeks he's been saying, "I got to be free (3) on January 19th."

After breakfast, some play time & getting dressed, we started opening presents.  We first FaceTimed Uncle Chris so he could see Ethan open the presents he sent him.  Uncle Chris gave him two new Imaginext airplanes.

We next FaceTimed Granddaddy & Grandma while he opened his card from them.

We then FaceTimed Papa & Meme while he opened their card.

After present time it was time for some lunch.  We went to Red Robin to celebrate.  Ethan was so happy this year when they came over & sang "Happy Birthday" to him.

I think he let them sing so he could get his ice cream sundae.  Yummy!

After lunch we came home & let Ethan open his birthday presents from us.

Josiah gave him a "Turbo" card this morning with stickers in it.  He chose to wait until tonight at Ethan's birthday party to give him his present.

Josiah even made a homemade card for his little brother.

Daddy made Ethan a homemade card as well.

Dustin & I then gave him a "Cars" birthday card with a race track coloring sheet inside.  I then gave him the homemade card I made for him.  He loved our cards!

Present time.  Ethan loved the "Cars" wrapping paper!

His first present from Daddy & Mommy was a LeapPad XDi.

It's like an iPad, but it's educational & for kids.

Ethan loved it & knew just what to do with it.

We then gave him accessories & games for his new LeapPad.  We also gave him a Playmobil set, Skipper from the movie "Planes" & three cars from the movie "Cars."

Here are the gifts & cards we gave Ethan for his birthday.

After a fun afternoon & a good nap, we are ready for his birthday party,

The theme for his party this year is "Cars 2!"

We used some new decorations, party supplies & some of his toys to decorate.

This is a closeup of the party supplies.  To the right is Josiah's present for Ethan & the party favors to give to his three friends (Josiah, Ben & Lizzie).

Once Ethan was dressed for his big party, we brought him downstairs to show him the decorations for his party.  He was so excited & loved them so much!

Our guests for his party arrived & we were ready for fun.  Our guests were Brad, Kerri, Ben, Lizzie & Caleb Sagraves.  Ethan still prefers smaller crowds, so we invited his best friend, Ben, & his family over to enjoy the special occasion.  We began with pizza, chips & fruit.

Then it was time for his birthday cake,

Ethan absolutely loved his cake & loved us singing to him.

I absolutely love these pictures.

His face is priceless.

He reached over & held Josiah's hand for some of the song.  (Sniffle, sniffle, tear!)

Ethan loves it when people blow out more than one candle on their cake, but he also likes the number candles.  So, we went with both.  On one side of his cake we put a "3" candle & on the other side of his cake we put 3 single candles.  He loved blowing out both.

The cake was chocolate on the inside, which he absolutely loved.

After cake time we opened presents.

He opened Ben & Lizzie's presents first.

Then he opened Josiah's presents.

Josiah gave him three cars from the movie, "Cars 2!"

Ben & Lizzie gave him two cars from the movie, "Planes 2" & some Dusty Crophopper pajamas (also from the movie Planes).  We went right upstairs to change his clothes.

Ben even brought over his Dusty pajamas so they could wear them together.  So cute!

Thanks to the Sagraves family for coming over & making his birthday so special!

At bedtime, we told Ethan he had one more present.  He went into his drawer to find his brand new Bible wrapped in "Cars" wrapping paper.

Ethan loves getting a new Bible every year for his birthday.  After reading the first story, we flipped to the back of the Bible to read him the personal messages we wrote.  Dustin went first.

We love writing these special messages to our children in the back of their Bibles.  He may not always have the greeting cards we give him, but these messages in his Bible, he'll have forever.  We are so thankful for this little boy.  Ethan has brought so much joy & laughter into our home.  We have learned greater levels of love, flexibility & fun thanks to him.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Ethan!