Happy Birthday, Jack!

We had family over on Saturday to celebrate Jack's 3rd birthday. It was a beautiful first day of Autumn, so we were able to sit outside and enjoy the weather.

Now that Jack is three years old, he is starting to accumulate toys that are more than just fun, silly items. Some of the gifts that Jack received on Saturday will most likely be around our house for a very long time - which is a good thing.

Possibly Jack's favorite gift of the day was a Radio Flyer wagon, given to him from my parents and my siblings.

The engineers at Radio Flyer have made many remarkable improvements to the "little red wagon" over the years. While I am a fan of nostalgia, I really didn't want Jack to put up with a rusty metal wagon, with a tipsy front axle. Jack's new wagon is constructed of sturdy molded plastic and features swiveling front wheels (for stability). Additional features include fold-down seats, a small storage compartment, and six cup holders. That's more cup holders than my car has! The wagon handle is not connected to the steering mechanism, so kids are not tempted to send their wagon down a hill like a toboggan. That's a safety feature that I really appreciate. This red wagon will see uncountable miles at the zoo, and other field trips for many years to come.

A couple of other great gifts that Jack received from his aunt Leah were the board games, Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders. These two games are classics, and I'm glad they are now in Jack's collection. Both games offer Jack the opportunity to practice his counting skills, as well as color recognition and taking turns. I look forward to teaching Jack how to play these games, as they will provide many hours of quality family time.