Cort's 3rd Birthday

I can't believe my little boy is 3!!! That was the fastest three years ever! 

This year Cort actually understood what a birthday was, and had been waiting for his birthday "FOREVER".

Cort has been in speech since June,and has been going to an articulation playgroup every Monday at Kids who Count.   Monday October 10 was his last playgroup (they only provide service up to 3), he was sad that he wouldn't have any more play groups, but he was thrilled that they sang Happy Birthday to him.  They also gave him a birthday crown that he had to wear every day until his birthday.

Thursday October 13 his speech therapist, Lori Elquist came for the last time.  She has been great, and has helped Cort make some great progress with his speech, both Cort and I will miss her.  Thanks Lori!

Saturday Cort got to have his first birthday party!  He had been asking for over a month to have ALL his family come to his birthday.  Unfortunately not everyone was able to make it, but he was thrilled that most were. My family, minus Bryan and Shayna's family were able to come Saturday night.  Cort was so excited to open his first presents, and blow out candle's on his yummy cake! 

Cort kept changing his mind on what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday.  First he wanted "Team Umi Zoomi" and then he wanted a "monster" cake, and last he really wanted a "Popeye" cake.  I'm not an amazing cake decorator by any means, and I didn't know how to make a "Popeye" cake, so we settled on cookie monster.  I thought it would cover his request for a Monster cake, plus if anyone knows Cort, they will tell you he is a cookie monster.  He has told me more than once that his favorite food in the whole world is Oreo's.  Thanks to Pinterest, I found a cute cookie monster cake, and some cute cupcake ideas.

Sunday morning Cort couldn't wait to open his presents.  He was so excited he wouldn't hold still for a decent picture, the one below was the best I could get.

After opening presents, we went to Nephi to visit Katie and Luke and their girls who were up from St. George, but headed back before Cort's second party that night.  He LOVED playing with the girls and was so sad that he had to tell them goodbye and go to church on his birthday! 

Sunday night we had the Smith family over.  Even great grandma and grandpa were able to come- it was a very pleasant surprise!

(Cash hadn't had a nap, and was overtired, I couldn't get him to look in a single picture!)

Connie and Dell gave Cort "LOTS and LOTS of money" for his birthday (he got 20 one dollar bills), he had never had his own money before, and was so excited. He wanted to go to the store as soon as he woke up Monday morning- unfortunately he had to wait.  He had his 3 year check up and was thrilled that not only did he not have to get a shot, but he also got a box of crayons.  After his Dr. appointment Monday morning he went to his first day of speech at "the BIG school".  He had been really sad Monday morning that he had "no more playgroups" and he told me he didn't want to be three, that he wanted to stay two forever! Luckily he LOVED speech and decided that he was ready to be 3.

Finally he was able to go to the store where he took his time picking out what he wanted to buy with all of his money.  He settled on a racing car toy, some fizzy colored bath beads, oreos and a new whoopie cushion (aunt Ashley had given him a whoopie cushion Saturday night and he'd played with it constantly, unfortunately it didn't hold up to the 14 cousins Sunday night).

Cort truly enjoyed his birthday this year, and was spoiled rotten!  Thanks to all of the family who helped him celebrate, and for all of the awesome gifts!