Happy 3rd Birthday, Cole!!

Cole had a fantastic birthday -- a "Thomas and Friends" birthday (imagine that!). The night before his birthday when Cole was supposed to be in bed sleeping, Russ and I started decorating with balloons, making a train track on the floor, etc. Cole kept peeking his head out of his door to see what was going on. He got so excited that he was up until almost 10:00 PM singing to himself in his room. Once he did fall asleep he was restless -- he was up four times because he was too excited to sleep. It was almost as exciting as Christmas Eve! One of Russ' classmates, Maura, also came the night before his birthday and brought him some Thomas tub toys, so he was revved up extra early for his birthday.

So, we weren't surprised when Cole was awake at just after 6:00 AM and ready to party. We opened presents at 6:40 AM -- not exactly prime party time, but he was thrilled and couldn't wait another minute. Cole was spoiled and is absolutely in love with all of his presents. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Guymon for all of the fun Thomas toys -- they are a huge hit and he absolutely loves them! Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Jacobson for the aquarium light -- he sleeps with it on (for bedtime and naptime) and Garrett is fascinated by it when it is on. Thanks to Great-Grandpa Stockman for the money (that will be going right into his savings account). Thanks to Daxton for the special birthday card (and $3 that we are also putting in his savings account).

Cole had a little birthday party with his friends Will and Gib. He kept asking for Ryker and Daxton to come too -- birthdays aren't the same without them! We did fingerpaints, watched the new Thomas movie (The Great Discovery), made an Island of Sodor with track and train stickers, played in trains that I made out of diaper boxes, and had cake and ice cream, and opened presents from Will and Gib ("Cars" mini-cars and a Thomas book). It was a lot of fun and Cole was thrilled! I hope he had a special day and felt how special he is. I can't believe he is already three!!



Here are a few fun things about Cole: he loves Thomas (obviously), but seriously thinks he lives on the Island of Sodor - it is all he talks about; when singing "I am a Child of God" he says, "has given me a nursery home" instead of "...an earthly home" and we can't convince him otherwise because he sings the song in nursery (and is in love with his nursery leader); he sleeps with every stuffed animal he owns on his bed in a "tower" and knows if one of them are missing; he tells Russ and I that we are his best friends (can we save that for the teenage years?!), he loves to go to Russ' school and have his teeth "counted" and checked; he makes up songs about everything, especially at dinner time when he is supposed to be eating but is trying to get out of it; instead of cheering, "let's go Aggies" he cheers, "let's go grapes" when he wants some for lunch; he will run up to an ATM and push buttons exclaiming, "I am checking my email!"; he has a tender heart and when he gets in trouble during the day he has a hard time sleeping at night. He is such a great boy and we absolutely love having him in our home! We love you, Coley!!