Happy 3rd Birthday, Jared!!!

September 16, Tuesday

On the morning of Jared’s birthday, I asked him what he wanted for breakfast with the intent on making whatever it was he asked for. He asked for pancakes, bacon, toast, and eggs with strawberry milk. So, that’s I made for him. It was a good breakfast; he even wanted to help me make. It was a fun way to start the day, cooking in the kitchen together. J 

We spent the day doing the things together that Jared wanted to do: playing with “guys” (action figures), cars, and guns, and reading books. 

For his birthday cake, I made a baseball themed cake, with the plan that we would take him to a baseball game later in the week. Cakes are not my forte, but I did my best, and I think he liked it.

Jared, Karl, and I had recently finished reading “Charlotte’s Web,” which he loved. He’s even named one of his pig toys Wilber, and almost all spiders are Charlotte spiders. So, for his birthday banner Charlotte made him a web that said, “SOME BOY,” like Wilber’s first web: SOME PIG. He really liked it, so we kept it in his bedroom after his birthday. 

 When Ryan got home, Jared got to have his dinner and opened presents. For his birthday he got clothes, books, an ambulance, a Hulk Smasher car, Avengers’ pencils, a giant drawing pad, and some small toys that we’d picked out for him. He loved his ambulance and Hulk Smasher and played with them the rest of the night.

 We then sang Happy Birthday and let him blow out his candles, and we had cake. I think Jared ate the most cake. J

I think he had a great day! We love our little Jared so much, and we’re so proud of the three-year-old he’s grown into!!

Boom-boom!!

September 14, Sunday

During the evening, one day, Ryan went to the entryway to play basketball with Jared. They then started passing the ball back and forth down the entryway. At some point Jared figured out if he threw the ball at one of the walls it would ricochet and hit the opposite wall. He kept doing it and told Daddy to do boom-booms too.

They were having so much fun they called me over and Jared explained to me what a boom-boom was. It was so cute! He’d hit one wall with the back of his hand and say “Boom!” and then hit the other wall with his other hand and say “Boom!” again. I tried to get him to do it for me again so I could get it on video. He didn’t do it quite the same. He used his feet instead, but it was still cute. J

Daikin Fun Day

September 13, Saturday

Last month, Ryan’s company held their Family Fun Day. The weather was pretty nice and there were a lot of games and bounce houses, so we had a good time.

They had a few competitions going on. Ryan participated in the kickball tournament and I participated in the pie baking contest. I feel like contests/prizes aren’t the best way to build friendship and unity with employees, but that’s what Goodman/Daikin seems to like to do, so Ryan and I participate and try and make the best of it.

Jared had a great time jumping and playing and getting his energy out. He was happy to see Brenda and Kerry there.

Brenda came with us to watch him play for part of the time. Brenda also entered the baking contest, with her chocolate cake. It was really good! Since there were few participants for each category the judges combined it into just one baking contest. Neither Brenda nor I won, but I was glad I participated so I can still call myself a pie baker. ;-)

Near the end, Ryan and Jared played golf chipping. I tried it; it’s really hard, so I was so impressed with Ryan when he got one in. It was awesome! Jared was so cute. Whenever it was his turn he would just hit the ball ‘til it was off the green circle then he’d be done. Sometimes it would take a few tries, but he was very proud of himself when he got it off.

Ryan’s team didn’t end up winning at kickball, but Kerry, the only one of us who wasn’t trying to win anything, won a gift card for playing one of the smaller games and doing the best. But, he was very nice and gave it to us. J

It ended up being a great day just being able to spend time together as a family!