Planning and Prepping is Half the Fun!

GM Kate (that's Godmother Kate in case you couldn't figure that out) was nice enough to come to town early to help prep for Rudy's party and spend more time celebrating! 

Kate told Rudy she would take him shopping and he could pick out whatever he wanted for his birthday present.  My grandparents used to do this for me when I was a kid and I LOVED it!  Rudy, without hesitation, said he wanted a new bat!  So our first stop was Scheels.

Usually the kids want to stop at the fish, run through the tubes, slide, maybe play a game of bowling, etc.  Not this day.  Rudy wanted to go straight to the bats and then was ready to leave.  He couldn't wait to get home and try it out!

Very protective of his fancy orange (aluminum) bat.  

We made a quick stop to visit Dad and show "the guys" the new bat and Kate took the kids on some chair rides...

And then it was back home to love on the babies :)

Kate stayed home with Avery and Ben and I was able to take Rudy with me to the grocery store.  It was nice having a little time with him and letting him be a little more independent since I didn't have 3 to look after.  He loved getting to have his own cart and was sure to fill it up - even throwing in some fruit on our way out.  

That night we had a cookout at Gran and Papa's and we got caught there a little late - the timing with a nursing baby and baths for toddlers…well there is a short window to get home and if we miss it, Plan B… baths at Gran's while Ben ate and night shirts from Uncle Tony's closet.  I love how the short-sleeved shirts go down to their wrists :)

Then Kate and I stayed up after the kids went to bed and worked on decorating the kitchen…lots and lots of balloons… to surprise Rudy the next morning, the day of the big bash!  We were also hosting a small breakfast the next morning so we stayed up to prep for that… did I mention how much I love having Kate around??  Especially before birthday parties :)  She's the best

Well our surprise went well and Rudy was all smiles!

The rest of our out of town visitors came over for breakfast and we enjoyed playing, opening some presents, and a quick trip to the park…

"Is there something on my face?"

Just precious

Three years old and gray already!

:)

Then it was time to rest up… big night ahead of us!  To be continued...