He woke up looking for toys and answering our questions of "How old are you?" with, "Tree!"
He didn't seem to understand the whole "birthday" concept even this year, but nodded his head in agreement when we told him he would have to wait to open his gifts until he arrived at grandpa and grandma's for his party.
He almost ruined the entire "surprise" thing when it comes to gifts after he pushed open the closed bedroom door and discovered the wrapper from his Superman costume.
Maybe it was weird, but I'd bought him the Superman costume on clearance, left over from Halloween, of course. He'd had the same costume last year and had loved it (wearing it only after Halloween, not on Halloween). Now with a Spiderman costume left from this Halloween, he could be whichever favorite superhero he wanted on any given day. Except Ironman. I haven't got that costume for him yet. Or Green Lantern. Ah crap. Next year, I guess.
Grandma and Grandpa had gone all out for the "party", which turned out actually to be a family dinner, since illness throughout the family kept cousins and aunts and uncles grounded. Instead I simply exposed my parents and aunt to the dreaded Swine Flu (before realizing I had it, but suspecting I did.) Grandma had purchased Spiderman decorations from a tablecloth, to plates, napkins, cups and a banner.
The biggest hit of the day? Green Lantern in all his green costume glory.
Second biggest hit? Handy Manny. Later the next day it was the Lincoln logs from Grandma and Grandpa which got some attention. On the actual day, Grandpa seemed to have the most fun with those logs.
Really, there isn't much to say about "the day" or "the party." It wasn't overwhelming. It wasn't terribly exciting.
Yet it was all of that because Jonathan turned three and the world did not explode; tantrums were not thrown; a crumpled face did not transform my cherubs smile into the Devil's snarl. No, that "Terrible Threes" I braced myself for did not come that day, nor the next.
Eh, who am I kidding? It's only been a few days. The Terrible Threes could be just around the corner.
But, if there are days this good mixed in between those bad days then I can handle it.
See more photos of Jonathan's birthday HERE.
