Big 3yr Old

A couple of weeks ago, Dylan turned 3. It seems like we have been talking about him turning 3 for the past 6 months. Every time we mentioned his birthday coming up, he would mention that he wanted to go to Jakes for pizza and video games. So that is where we went for dinner. Of course it was also the last weekend of soccer and Jakes was filled with soccer kids and their parents but we were able to stake out a corner for all of us. Dylan and Andrew had a great time playing the race car video game and buying trinkets and stickers from the machines.


Then it was back home for cake and presents. Dylan couldn't wait to open his presents and the other kids tried to help of course as well. I made a lemon cake for the occasion but I guess it has been a while since I've made a cake because one layer was seriously undercooked. I cut out the gooey middle and the rest was good.


The day after his birthday was Dylan's first official day in his new preschool class. So I made muffins topped with lemon frosting for the occasion. Somehow they managed to fit three candles on top of a mini blueberry muffin.

The following weekend we had a small party at the house with some of his friends. They had a great time playing in the house though Gina and Andrew quickly got bored of all the preschoolers. Dylan had requested a rainbow ice cream cake again from Baskin Robbins which made it easy.

Thanksgiving

This year we hosted Thanksgiving at our house. We certainly had a lot to be thankful for this year. My sister Alice broke her leg less than two weeks ago and she returned to her apartment two days before Thanksgiving. She was lucky that it was only her leg that was hurt, and though it will be a number of weeks to recover, her leg should be fine after it is healed.

I didn't make anything fancy or different this year. I roasted a turkey, made stuffing, gravy, and mashed potatoes. Gina insisted on helping me make the mashed potatoes even though she doesn't like to eat them. Here are the boys helping me make a pumpkin pie. I made a pecan pie the night before. It was fun having the kids help out and I need to make an effort to include them more in the kitchen prep.


Dylan spent some time with Alice on the couch asking questions about her leg. She mentioned that the bone was broken and he piped up: Like a skeleton?

The kids loved taking pictures with my camera so here is one that Gina took after dinner. Vic's friend from work, Emre is on the left. Gina was very industrious, making crowns out of the yellow birch leaves for Alice and myself and insisted that we wear capes as well.

The kids weren't really into the dinner part of the evening. Dylan and Gina snacked all afternoon on chips and olives and weren't interested in dinner when it was served. Andrew had pasta with red sauce since he doesn't eat turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc. After dinner Dylan through a fit over something which escalated into a full blown tantrum. He was on the floor screaming and kicking, his face turning bright red from the effort. Vic finally carried him into our bedroom and he continued for another 20 to 30 minutes. Alice had to explain what a tantrum is to Emre who is from Turkey and hadn't encountered a screaming 3 yr old since coming to the states.


The day after Thanksgiving, we went for a visit with my cousin Mollie and her husband Andrew. Their son Declan is only six months younger than Dylan. It was great catching up with Mollie and Andrew and seeing their new house. Dylan and Declan had a grand time playing chase through the house. They even tried a game of hide and go seek but they both need some work on the rules of the game.