Mattias is 3!

And now Mattias is 3! What a wonderful age, and a momentous birthday in our household!

Mattias is funny and expressive; persistent & careful - which also means stubborn; hard-working; and gentle & sweet with baby Hawkins. He loves matchbox cars, trucks, trains, Legos, construction, books, his stuffed bears, almost all food, and marching bands. He often has cars in his pockets, and books or stuffed animals or blankets that he drags out to the car to bring along wherever we are going. He is very happy playing by himself and will focus for a long time on whatever he is doing (usually with cars or something to dig); he has a long attention span. Now he's starting to follow hard after Timo - they already share so many interests - and will spend long periods of time reading books; he is also playing with the Legos, not just the larger Duplos. At the same time, he is courageous and athletic; he's rides his balance bicycle fast and well. He still alternates between left-handed and right-handed, so we're curious to see how that continues to develop.

Saturday Oct 28th was his birthday, and it was very chilly and pouring rain all day. After a birthday breakfast of pancake, cards and a couple of presents, we were all quite content to spend the morning reading books, including a couple of awesome new ones from their birthdays. Later on Jim took the older boys to the hardware store to look at pumpkins and sit on the riding lawnmower (good birthday outing for a 3 year old). In the afternoon we had naps and I made chocolate cake, which we took over at suppertime to the Woodys'.

This weekend Greg and Abi and their 5 kids, and Salem with 2 of her daughters, were back home at their parents', so of course they were with us for supper and cake. It was fun to have the cousins' cousins around to celebrate together. Timo was giddy to have older boys to wrestle with and chase around the house. And Mattias got his wish for "cats at his birthday party" because Gayle just got two new black kittens!!!! (forgot to get a photo of them) I was sorely tempted to get a kitten for us!

Mattias covered his eyes and smiled very shyly while we were singing

little Hawk was quite content in Gayle's arms, and almost anyone who holds him!

Abi, me, and Salem - we were missing you, Hannah!

a few more presents, including Star Wars Legos! Getting the collection started!!