3 Years Old

July is like a day at full day at a spa: indulgent and luxurious. We get everything all at once: sun, beaches, 4th of July, Jack's birthday, plus we're right smack in the middle of summer break so the regular school year is far, far away. Seems unfair that July has so much goodness stacked in it, but it's kind of like having the absolute best 5 course meal after a day of not eating: that much sweeter.

Jack turned 3 today. The day started and ended in what I'm beginning to think is typical 3-year old behavior. Jack started by telling us he didn't want to do something because, by the way, he was still 2, not 3. At bedtime, he got off his bed, walked over to me in the doorway and sat down, looking at me like he wasn't budging. BUT, in between all that, it was a great day. We had breakfast at Zaftigs delicatessen in Brookline (which was really all about me since I haven't had any good coffee in four days since breaking my THIRD french press), then three playgrounds in one where even the promise of a new tricyle from Toys R Us couldn't get Jack away. Jack opened up presents throughout the day, the girls from upstairs came down to play (to engage in the age-old battle of sharing new toys), and Ed drove across town for some good pizza. Jack avoided a nap for the seventh day in a row (he got up after 40 minutes, looked at me and plainly declared that he wasn't sleepy; okay-I get it).

We also had cake. Jack requested Ice Cream cake, which Ed & I tried to make last night, but which didn't freeze fast enough, so we woke up this morning to a blob of yellow cake and chocolate chip ice cream that looked a bit like the before pictures form one of TLC's stomach stapling shows. So, Ed went to the store and dropped $30 on an icecream cake that looked normal. See for yourself. While both taste great, I couldn't print out pictures of the blobby one.

I did coax Jack back to bed by bringing in the last present I forgot to have him open. It had Fantasia DVD as well as the book version of his favorite Backyardigan's episode: Race to The Tower of Power. Uncle Steve got him the DVD at Christmas and that is the episode Jack ALWAYS wants to watch. It's your basic superhereos versus supervillans, but the song and dance is this hilarious latin, shake your hips, move your booty genre. I read it to Jack, who was so enthralled, he barely moved (which never happens). He was exhausted, but after I left, I looked back where he had turned on his flashlight to pour over his book.

I love 3.