Stacer Days: Three Birthdays...

First up was a quiet and quick Mama Birthday...

My sweet boys...

This is how we spent the afternoon... then we all went out for dinner.

Four days later.... 2.8.2012... Aaron turned FOUR! Grandma was in town for the week. We told Aaron that he could go anywhere he would like that afternoon and he chose the "big playground," which is the one next to the Rec Center. It was the first time Adam was allowed (or able) to run around on his own.

He was not scared.

The outing wouldn't be complete without a couple of dramatic episodes.

Then we went home and ate dinner and had a little cupcake for Aaron. His cake was coming in a few days with the joint-celebration.

Then Aaron got to open a couple of gifts, the rest would be in a few days...

Thankfully, it doesn't take much for him to get really excited.

Teaching Adam where the shapes go.

Brief interlude... Grandma got to try out the Plasma Car. It is so much fun. We have just enough space to drive it in a couple of circles, which is plenty for the boys to make their race track.

Adam is especially snuggly in the mornings...

The night before the joint-birthday Alan and I stayed up late assembling the gift from the Stacer Family. It was a train table, complete with a whole city track set.

And two hours later...Voila!

Since Aaron's birthday is the 8th and Adam's is the 12th, it works right now to just lump them together for a joint birthday. There was no party this year, just a simple, small celebration. We were planning on going hiking in the morning and then have cake that evening... but the weather was a bit chilly so we revised the plan... Train table unveiling in the morning, hike after nap time. Aaron knew only that there was something fantastic under the sheet and that it was to be shared. After breakfast they got to pull the sheet off.

Grandpa came back into town that morning to retrieve Grandma and stay for the day's fun...

The newness wouldn't wear off for days to come. Perfect timing for a bad-weather indoor toy.

They had to show Grandpa, and anyone else who was willing, all of the flashing lights and sounds...

After the boys and grandpa took a nap, we went for a hike by Lake Georgetown. Aaron took turns with each able body...pulling and toward the end, being pulled.

It was quite chilly but we bundled up. Hayley didn't mind freezing so long as she could retrieve the stick from the really cold water. Crazy animal.

Grandma...

Later that night, we had a little cake, or two. Adam a fire-truck (done with as little red frosting as possible and still be recognizable).

And Aaron asked for a train cake...

Adam is a big fan of cake and had no problem putting his tiny piece down...

Aaron is only just slightly more civilized...

Apparently the consensus was that the cake to frosting ratio was off a bit...

Then we opened gifts. Daddy took his position...

And Adam was trying to figure out what all of that paper trash was on the table.

Handmade gifts get presented first because they don't stand a chance against the new flashy toys. I just colored a couple of Cars 2 pictures for the boys.

Adam was content to play with the four play-dough containers the whole night, stacking them on top of each other then un-stacking and re-stacking.

Uncle Matt and Aunt Fi sent a snazzy cash register. Aaron uses it in his "drawing store" and to teach Adam his numbers and learn about money. It is a big hit.