Ayden is 3!

Yep, you read that right, my baby boy is the big THREE! I know, I can't believe it either! He is such a sweetheart, too. As I'm writing this he is sitting on a chair with his guitar playing a song for us and periodically asking, "how is everybody doing?" I don't know where he learned to work the crowd, but it is definitely adorable! The other day, he came into the room I was in playing his guitar. He stood there and rocked out for a moment before saying, "It's not louder enough!". Then he looked down at his right hand and said in all seriousness, "I think I need a new hand."

His cousin, Laine, loves knock knock jokes and told a bunch the last time we saw him. Ayden must have picked up on it because he just came up to me and told this joke:

Ayden: knock knock

Me: who's there?

Ayden: apple

Me: apple who?

Ayden: um, twenty! ahahahahaha

And to his daddy a minute later:

Ayden: knock knock

Daddy: who's there?

Ayden: banana

Daddy: banana who

Ayden: um, taxi! ahahahahaha

Ayden's birthday was on Saturday the 11th, so I know this post is way late. But in my defense, we didn't have his party until last Sunday, the 19th. And you have to allow a few days for me to be a lazy bum.

His party was very fun! Eric's parents graciously allowed us to invade their house for it, as they have more room and a nicer back yard. We rented a big blow-up slide, that Ayden didn't even go down once, but most of the other kids at the party enjoyed. Ayden spent most of his time in the sandbox. He got lots of great gifts and was super excited about all of them

The sand box was a big hit!

The birthday boy

Cousin Toby

Cousin Sage

Grandma Debbie made and frosted the cake, and I decorated it.

Hmm, I think she got the short end of the stick on this one.

Seeing his cake for the first time. Try to contain yourself, kid. Jeesh!

As we sang him Happy Birthday, he was trying

very hard to keep a straight face and not smile.

He finally cracked a little by the end of the song

He got:

new strings for his guitar from Papa, Boyd, and Doyle that

I didn't get a picture of because Papa just handed them to

Ayden as soon as he arrived. Papa did tell me that Ayden

was very appreciative of them. After all, it's hard to make

beautiful music on a guitar with only three strings.

a nerf gun from Grandma and Grandpa Knepprath

a remote control motorcycle from

Grandma and Grandpa Ackerman

cool guy sunglasses from Mom and Dad

a mystery horn from Mom and Dad.

I wonder what that could be for . . . hmmm

fun, swimming penguins for the bathtub from Aunt

Brandy, Uncle Rob, Toby, and Levi

A shovel and pail to play in the sandbox from

Uncle Kevin, Aunt Clarissa, Sage, Andy, and Dakota

and a new bike from Mom, Dad, and Anna!!!

I'm sure inside he is VERY excited,

it just hasn't made it's way out yet

trying out his new bike in the driveway

I just realized that I have no pictures of the big slide. I guess I was too busy visiting to take any pictures of the kids having fun on it.

Thanks to everyone who came and celebrate his birthday with us, he loved all of your thoughtful gifts! And thank you again to Eric's parents for letting us invade your house, and making all that great food. And to you Aunt Pam for your delicious potato salad!