Russ turns 3

Russ turned three this week!  It is hard to believe he is getting so big!  He is completely potty-trained and likes to tell me he is "bigger."  He sees all the things his older siblings get to do and always wants to participate so I often tell him, "when you're bigger."

We had Kristy and family, and Melanie (both of Rob's sisters) over to celebrate.   In the morning when we all sang Happy Birthday to Russell he had the biggest grin on his face when he realized it was HIS birthday.  He has been waiting a long time.  Everyone in our family has a birthday close to someone else except for him.  Clear back in May and again in the summer when Seth and Brenna had their birthdays he kept telling me it was his birthday.  Well, now he finally got his chance.

I made him a football cake since he has been enjoying football lately.  He likes to watch it with Rob on TV and play it downstairs in our basement.  He throws his small soft football in a perfect spiral every time.  He likes to have me "run" and then he will throw it to me as if he is making a play in a game.  He also likes to kick it.  Right before he begins to run toward the ball he puts his right hand up just like the kicker in a college game to signal he is ready to go.  It is pretty cute.

Here is my nephew Jonah with our cutie Sydney.

Here is Russell sporting his new pajamas from Grandma Weaver.

I took this picture the day after his birthday when he was wearing his new clothes from Grandma Astle.  He wanted to take a picture of me, too!

Thanks everyone for making his birthday so special!

This past weekend Seth and Brenna participated in a Sonatina Competition.  Each student played in a private audition and two finalists and three Honorable Mentions were picked from each level.  I am so happy to report that Brenna received an Honorable Mention!  I was so proud of her because she wasn't really enthusiastic about doing it and was extremely nervous.  I am so glad she was brave and gave it a try.  Hopefully she will have more confidence now.
As a piano teacher I was helping hand out awards at the Honors Recital.  I was able to give Brenna her ribbon (and squeeze a hug in there as well).