Three

Well, the big day has come and gone. Austin had a great day, lots of sugar and even more presents. Thank you to everyone who sent or brought presents and love for Austin. There is no way I can document the whole day with the few pictures I can upload in one post. Check out facebook for more pictures.

I have to admit, I think we hit a home run with this gift. Austin got to open his present from mommy and daddy soon after getting up this morning. We got him a violin. It is a real one (but the cheapest we could find). He barely put it down all day- he wanted to sleep with it at nap. It isn't always very pleasant on the ears, but he loved it. He has pretty good form, don't you think?

Austin requested a piano cake and this was my best attempt. I read online how to make the from bars of white and dark chocolate...it made it pretty easy. Otherwise it was a pretty simple chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.
Austin still doesn't love to smile for the camera, so to get him even looking at it is a success in picture-taking these days. He sang the Happy Birthday song loudly along with everyone else and successfully blew out all 4 candles (3 little ones plus the Number 3 candle) before we even stopped singing.

Here are Austin's friends. Even though he told me earlier "I don't want any friends for a party, just by myself" I think he was glad they came. Bree and Sydney are in the front with the Shaffar kids (Simeon, Benny and Jasmine) around Austin.

Presents! Austin got more than he knew what to do with. Here he is with Bree opening her gift...a Thomas Lego-type set.

The theme was music and it worked well. We did a craft where everyone colored or decorated a musical instrument (made of plates stapled together as tambourines, ice cream containers as drums, etc.). Then we had a musical parade led by Chris on the guitar and Austin on the violin. I also had all the musical instruments (appropriate for children) out...as you can see in the video we had Sydney on mandolin, Bree on keyboard and more. Music is such a fun way of interacting and I think the kids got into it.