Tripp Turns Three!!

& we didn't even throw a party for him!  Can you believe it?  Y'all know how I look for ANY excuse to throw a party, so this year, when we tossed around the idea of a birthday trip, I knew it would be a tough decision.  Then as soon as I made hotel reservations, I started having my own reservations.  Pinterest will do that to you - I saw so many cute ideas for a dinosaur party!  However, Atlanta won out and I'm so glad it did.  We had such a fun time, seeing Tyrannosaurus Rex, "King of the Dinos" (the way Tripp always says it), going to the aquarium, being in the car for almost 3 straight days... ;-)

His birthday was actually on Friday, February 24, but the fun started before then!  I started feeling a little guilty about not having him a friend party so I took some little "favors" to his preschool party on Tuesday -

dinosaur finger puppets

(that I found in the clearance bin at Michael's for $.30/2 - just had to throw that in there.  You all know how I L.O.V.E. a good deal!)

and I made these dinosaur hats (hats leftover from last year's party)

and baked these dinosaur egg nests cupcakes (well, at least they're supposed to look like that!)

Tripp has the funniest expressions!

Happy Birthday Tripp!

Moving on to Wednesday night - Mr. Matt and Mrs. Julie, his grand neighbors from next door, came over.  There was a birthday flag, bubble packaging, and money in a fish book!  Tripp loved the bubble packaging more than the actual present itself.

Then he started playing "sword fight" with the flag, so we quickly took a picture before anyone was injured!

Thursday - as soon as we walked in to D. Daddy's and Grandma Judy's, Tripp asked, "Did you get me a Tyrannosaurus Rex cake?"  They did not disappoint!  Check out this cake (and his expression)!

I've decided I'm going to start wearing the helmet around the house.  This boy plays rough, and I need all the protection I can get!

Another priceless expression - the servers sang  to Tripp at dinner.  This was a first for him and he was totally caught off guard!

Friday!  Introducing Tripp the THREE YEAR OLD!!

A 3 candle in a cinnamon roll-great birthday breakfast.

We left soon after breakfast and opening presents.

Finally seeing the dinosaurs at the Fernbank!  We told him we were going but I don't think he really knew what to expect.  He was very excited!

Mommy & the Birthday Boy

Daddy & the Birthday Boy

Daddy the Brachiosaurus

Mommy the T Rex

Tripp the Stegosaurus

We had a ROARing good time at the museum!

Saturday at the aquarium!

Look who joined us!  Uncle Will and Lindsey!  We were so glad they decided to come - the aquarium was CROWDED and we were thankful for 4 extra hands!

Tripp said that seeing the penguins was his favorite thing.  Although I didn't get a great shot of him and Lindsey popping their head out of the hole, I did get this picture.  Poor Lindsey - the stuff we make her do!  She's a good sport, though and we love her.

And we love Uncle Will too!  These boys are silly when they get together.

Another fun day in Atlanta,

& one tired boy.  He didn't even get to try his first Varsity burger!

Sunday in Greenville. This was the year of cool birthday cakes!  His YaYa made this pirate cake, complete with swords, pirates, and treasure chests!  He immediately started eating all the decorations.

3 cannon candles!  So cute.

Trying to get a family shot, but this boy was totally over it!  Can you tell?  Allen and I have decided that this is the way to do birthdays - the parents get to go on a little vacation with the birthday boy and the grandparents mothers do all the cake baking, cooking, & cleaning!  Just kidding, but we certainly appreciate everyone making Tripp's 3rd birthday so special!

I did an "interview" with him about turning three and will hopefully post soon.  It's taken me all week to get this one completed, and Tripp has been sick today:-(  We missed pre-school & book character dress up day (he was going as a Bernstein Bear), but he's feeling much better.  Days like today remind me how blessed I am to be at home with him and how grateful I am for Allen.