Three

This is what three looks like.

And this.


And, after a long day with no nap, this.

I had plans for a super hero party to celebrate Jack's third birthday. I've been collecting ideas for awhile which included cardboard boxes painted to look like buildings and personalized capes and different super hero abilities given to each party guest. But when Chris' Dad called to invite us down to the desert the weekend I had pin marked for the celebration, I was relieved to put it off - it's been a rough winter.

I know we've had fairly elaborate third birthdays for both Athena and Zoe, but the third time around reaching three, I also know that this birthday is not the most remembered. Plus, I was at a loss as to who to invite. There is some mention of "Nicholas" and "Keenan" at school, and a budding friendship with little Leo across the street, but other than that, his sisters are his favorite playmates.

And we love a trip to Palm Springs, especially when it includes a golf tournament for Chris. For me, the most recent cool thing about visiting Grandaddio and Grandma Andree in Palm Springs is that Baba and Nana now live there too! It's the Land of Grandparents and its pretty easy ricocheting our crazy crew between the two households when the chaos and noise become too much in the usually quiet and sedate homes.

So we were happy to abandon plans for a big party and postpone for next year. Instead we left the planning up to the Granddads.

Baba prepared a sweet 3rd birthday breakfast, as is the family tradition.


With super yummy chocolate cake, the strawberries made it "breakfast."

And lots of presents to open. Many we brought with us, sent by family members across the country.

In true Third Child tradition, Jack's main present from us was unwrapped and still in its Sears bag from whence it came. It was a long couple of days before we had to pack our crew and road trip to Palm Springs. Sigh. I promise I will make it up to you my darling little Dude.

Regardless of my lack of birthday preparations, this little Dude loved all his presents and celebrations.

After Birthday Breakfast, a day at the ZOO was the next on the agenda. Palm Springs has an excellent Zoo for African and Central American animals, "The Living Desert"
not a bad way to spend one's third birthday.


Athena tried to show Jack "three" but he kept on saying he was "six."


The Living Desert Zoo was nothing short of awesome: cheetahs, zebras and warthogs.

The girls declared it the "best day ever" even before the day was fully complete.

Any day that includes BABY GIRAFFES has got to be one of the best days ever.


Zoe had to have her picture taken with the giraffes as they are her second favorite animal in the world (Zebras being the first, of course).


And poor Baba was on triple piggy back duty, carrying little ones all throughout the park, nevermind the 89 degree heat.

There was also a massive train model train set that we could have watched all day.

And a carousel.

Which the little Dude preferred to enjoy for a bench rather than an ostrich.

While the girls chose a more wild ride.
And then we all went home for naps.

And stayed up way too late snuggling and talking by the fire pit.

The reason for the trip, besides being able to celebrate Jack's third with family, was so that Chris could be a part of a long standing family tradition - a men's golf tournament at Grandaddio's club. All the uncles were there, and David, cousin Matt, a hearty sampling of Liebels. In past visits to Palm Springs, its been alot of work for me because Chris always wants to golf and when he golfs, I am left with all three kids for hours. Either nervously by the pool (I dislike being with all three non swimming kids and just myself in the pool) or impatiently at the condo. But, now with Dad and Patricia just 10 minutes away, Chris can golf the day away and we...

have Bocce ball tournaments in Baba's orange grove, or

go kitty hunting, trying to catch sight of one of the four kitties who live there and make themselves scarce when they see little people, or


chill in the sun by the pool, or

swim the day away.

Each day of our trip started with a very early dip in the pool. The girls begged to get in the pool the minute they woke up and it was hard work getting them to wait until the grownups had had their coffee and the sun was fully risen and it was warmer than 68 degrees outside. At 9am one morning, Zoe complained that she hadn't been in the pool "all day" and when was she ever going to get to swim.

See Baba heats the jacuzzi up to a comfortable degree and they would spin around their "little pool" for hours. Its shallow enough so they don't have to be attached to a parent and the pool is cleaned by salt, not chlorine, its practically a large bathtub. They spent so many hours in Baba's pool they nearly grew fins.

We had such a lovely time. Thank you Baba and Nana!
The kids are already begging to go back.

****

Grandaddio (and Aunt Barb, Andrea, Aunt Fran and Grandma Andree) also threw Jack a little third soiree. Making his one birthday dream come true, a "Star Wars" cake. See the little finger marks on the bottom left hand corner, yeah, that was Uncle David...

We got a chance to reunite with our lovely summer bride,
Andrea, now happily married to the Big Guy, Matt. So great to see them and catch up.


And Jack got a Liebel serenade. Uncle David filmed and promptly put it on Facebook.


followed by lots more presents to open.


And with that my little Dude is officially three.
We love you to bits and pieces little boy.
I can't believe its only been three years as I can no longer imagine life without you.
Even your big sister Zoe thinks your awesome.