...so we just had to fly down to South Carolina and help Abram celebrate!

 

I mean, what better excuse to leave blah Indiana and fly south to warmer climes for a weekend?!

 

First order of business:  PRESENTS!!!

 

Lucy, as all little sisters are, was very helpful...

 

We must not forget that even though you live in South Carolina you will ALWAYS be a HOOSIER!!!

 

Lucy liked this fishing game we brought Abram...

 

...and especially the remote control car from Mommy and Daddy.

 

We also gave him a leaf blower bubble machine...definitely an outdoor toy...

 

...which was a big hit!

 

After Lucy's nap, we were off to a nearby mall...

 

...where the escalator was as big an attraction for Abram as the reason we came...

 

...which was to take Abram to "Build a Bear."

 

Or in his case, build a cat...

 

...which he insisted be named "Smokey," even though he already has another stuffed cat named Smokey as well as a real live cat at Gramaw's named Smokey.

As Kara told the lady, it's a family name!

 

Abram kissed Smokey's silk heart before putting it inside its still-floppy/lifeless body...

 

...then stepped on the pedal to help stuff Smokey.

 

With a little discreet pedal help from Daddy...

 

Smokey's all stuffed!

 

Now he needs a good scrubbing!

 

A happy little 3-year-old and his new friend!

 

Oh, we must not forget Smokey's official birth certificate!

 

"Are we done yet?"

 

Yep!  All finished!

 

He looks so big these days....

 

Birthday lunch at Jason's Deli...

 

...where they have FREE ICE CREAM!  Speaking my language!!!

 

I think Mommy Kara was cringing a bit when Papaw fed Lucy her first ice cream cone. Which, by the way, she LOVED!!!

 

"Smokey, meet Smokey."  Just in time for naps together!

 

After a delicious supper, it was time to break out the ice cream cake! And the 3-year-old (with a little lotta help from Daddy!) got to light his own candles!

 

Which, for our fire-obsessed little boy, was a REALLY BIG DEAL!

 

"Happy Birthday" has always been Abram's very favorite song.  And after singing it so many times for so many other people, FINALLY it was HIS birthday.  And he belted it out... "Happy Birthday to ABRAM!"

SO CUTE!!!

 

SMOKE!!!  The next best thing to the actual fire itself...

 

Yep, he's his daddy's son all right!

 

He surely is!

 

A FaceTime birthday call with his other grandparents, Jeff and Peggy.

 

Trying out his new swingset accessory...

 

Who needs toys when you've got a box?

 

Box of adorableness!

 

A birthday smooch from Mommy before heading up to bed...

 

The official 3-year-old measurement...

 

37.5" tall!

 

A wonderful day celebrating a very special boy!

 

Abram's three!