Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Happy 3rd Birthday to MacGruber!


Happy Birthday to MacGruber, who thinks he is 7!! 

When you ask my sweet boy how old he is, he often replies "Seven!" I think it's his favorite number in life right now because everything is 7!  However, my big guy is now 3.  I know, I can't believe it either! 

Life if just cruising on by and now I have a three year old...booohooooohoooo!  Before I know it, he'll be eighteen and I sure hope he loves me then as much as he does now!  He is quite the Mama's boy and I really have no complaints!  I loooove my boy!

Ok, enough blathering on about me getting old and my kiddo growing up too fast...on to the birthday celebration!

I made a countdown chain a week before MacGruber's birthday and he adored tearing off a link each morning and counting the days until his birthday.  I am so thankful I only did seven days because it was still difficult to explain that his birthday wasn't quite yet!






On the day of his birthday, we both got struck down with a pretty terrible cold, so my big plans of visitng the Shedd Aquarium or children's musuem didn't quite happen.  However, we prevailed (on a much smaller scale) and had a really wonderful day with Nana and Baba in town.  We hiked through Hawthorn Hollow and stopped by Barnes and Noble for coffee (for the grown-ups) Green Machine juice (for MacGruber) and a huge chocolate cupcake!

MacGruber loves to hike!  He always finds a big stick to use too!

Having fun with silly Baba!

The best way to see the sights after exploring the woods for an hour!  MacGruber was a trooper!!
While MacGruber was napping, Nana went wild with the crepe paper and we also picked up his balloons and cake.  When MacGruber turned 1, I vowed to always make his cakes.every.single.year.  Wellllll....never say never!  I was so excited to spend time with him this year, that the cake making business went right out the window and into the hands of a professional.  And, with the cake that MacGruber picked out,  I was so happy that I did!

When Daddy got home, we headed out to an awesome pizza dinner where we "toasted" MacGruber several times!  He was such a cutie pie, standing in the booth at the pizza parlor, letting everyone toast him birthday wishes and clinking cups.  We actually did it several times upon his request!

Once, we arrived home, it was FINALLY cake and present time!  MacGruber was so pumped to get his "easy bakey thing" and couldn't wait to open his presents.  His best friend J-Rod came over to help and celebrate too. 

My big 3-year old ready to open his gifts!

Baba showing MacGruber how to use his new HotWheels truck!

J-Rod showing MacGruber how to say "cheese" and model clothes on your birthday!

A super awesome present from Auntie Hollie--Pizza, anyone? 
(Nana and Baba also got him the felt sandwich set, which was a huge hit.  My kiddo is a foodie, what can I say!?)

So excited over his very own Easy Bake Oven!  He was pretending to "eat it up!"

While we were singing, MacGruber was actually tapping his foot to the song!  The expression on his face shows the concentration it took to tap!  And...can you say, "awesome cake!?"  Don't let the whiteness fool you...

Make a wish, buddy!

MacGruber's rainbow cake! 
He picked it out on Pinterest and wouldn't stop talking about it!  It was a huge hit and tasted great too! 
Another year of my sweet baby boy's life has flown by and we are continually blessed with his love, his laughter and all his talk about poo!  We had a wonderful time celebrating his birthday and look so very forward to this next year's adventures!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Chef MacGruber and his Halloween Adventures!

Happy Halloween...about a week too late!  On Halloween Eve, MacGruber, Daddy and I carved our pumpkins.  Actually, let me clarify.  I scooped and carved two pumpkins, both poorly, because my hand was killing me, Daddy carved one masterpiece and MacGruber watched "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown."  I totally thought MacGrubes would be into it...maybe next year!  We whipped up some toasted pumpkin seeds and enjoyed taking pictures of our Daddy's masterpiece! 








On Trick or Treating day, Chef was super excited to go with his best friend and neighbor J-Rod, and one of his other best pals, Mymy and her mommy!

Our first house!  He was waving to us....aww!

The Chef, Princess Jasmine, and Mommy Raja in a Tigger costume!  Hey, parents will do ANYTHING to make their kiddo's happy and she is one amazing mama!

Showing me his loot!

Cooper the Firedog!  Or...fat dog in a little coat!  Poor Coop's..he hated being in costume...it didn't even stay closed!

J-Rod and Princess Jasmine

Two happy kiddo's and lots of candy! 

Near the end of Trick or Treating, the Chef was exhausted!  He slouched over in a big, dramatic way and sighed as he walked to each house!  It was quite hysterical and he kept asking for "energy" aka candy so he could make it to the front door of our neighbors!




Later that evening, we got the best surprise!  Daddy's dear friend, Eric, surprised us with a visit!  This awesome guy had never met MacGruber before and they definitely hit it off.  MacGrubes had to bring his Strider bike in the house and show Uncle Eric how he rides.  Now, a challenge is on for a bike race!  We adore Uncle Eric and were pretty stoked over the whole night! 


We had a wonderful Halloween!  Another year of lots of treats and no tricks!  Just the way we like it!