More Happy Returns of the Day

We suffered a power outage the night before Matthew's birthday which in turn messed up all the clocks (and my ability to bake the cake I had just stuck in the oven; thankfully I could still make Rice Krispie treats on our gas range).  Andrew, in tears, appeared at my bedside at 6:20 am, distraught at his inability to determine the time (and more correctly, whether or not he was allowed to get up).

I eventually convinced him that in was not in fact Jonathan's fault that the clocks were off (though that happens so frequently, it was no wonder he was confused).  He disappeared, Matthew appeared and we went through the whole tale again.  It took awhile to convince him he was indeed 3, and finally he went off to find Stephen and declare, "I really be 3 now."

The Indian Givers vs. The Mine-o-saur

The big boys kept insisting that they wanted to purchase gifts for Matthew.  Though I tried to persuade them to pool their money and purchase one thing, they were not able to agree: Andrew wanted to buy a NASCAR and Stephen wanted a CARS vehicle because I'm sure that's what Matthew wanted (yeah, right).

When we had Christmas Round Two at our house on New Years, Matthew unwrapped all his gifts and then hauled them back to his room and shut the door.  He didn't get to play with them that way, but neither did anyone else (which I believe was the main point).

Everyone got in on the unwrapping action and everyone was pleasant.  Matthew immediately took to a fishing pole from my sister and the big boys sneaked off to their room with the gifts they had bestowed on their brother. 

Matthew occupied himself for at least 20 minutes placing stickers in a notebook, and when he went to put his book in a safe place (the bedroom), he discovered he had been locked out.  "But Matthew will mess up what we are doing!" came cries from inside the room.  We immediately moved into a lesson about giving and sharing.

Jonathan was oblivious and content to mess with the scraps of paper, leftover stickers, and an empty box.

We finished up with bike-riding lessons

and more blue Rice Krispie treats.

What a birthday!