...and Three

A quick two weeks later on the calendar, our son Carson's birthday follows Amalie's, as he turns three today. He never did stay "baby" for long -- his face lost the standard baby fat, the rounded softness, after a few months -- but now he's a genuine, full-fledged kid. He's finally old enough to play in the local kid soccer league, which starts in two weeks.

Later tonight, after gymnastics, he'll get to have his Present Hunt around the house -- and he's hoping for many toy cars. Trust me, it is covered. He's also getting a couple of other toys, an Ikea chair that was overlooked at Christmastime, some annual coin sets, a baseball bean bag chair, and a twin-size set of Lightning McQueen sheets for when we get him a bed. He's also getting soccer shinguards, but those are not so much a gift as mandatory equipment. And, to keep things fair, Amie is also getting the same coin sets, and her own bean bag -- pink, of course.

Later we'll have cupcakes. We made banana bread last week and took it to his daycare school on Friday (he doesn't attend on Mondays), and it was completely gone by day's end. This is typical; we make banana bread about once a month or so, contribute it as a treat for the kids, and they love it. So yummy!

After letting myself get badly overwhelmed by Christmas and birthdays in 2006-07, this gift-giving season went much more smoothly. I'm pleased, and not at all stressed like before. Ahhhhh!

Of course, Valentine's Day is later this week, but we make very little fuss about that holiday. Tiny boxes of chocolates and we're done. That's more than enough.