It was so fun this year to see Peanut anticipate his birthday. Since Best and I have our birthdays shortly before his, there were plenty of memories of "Happy Birthday to you cake". I don't think he realized he would get presents as well, but once they started showing up he liked each one more than the last...
We celebrated with our in-town family on Friday night with pizza. Peanut "made out like a bandit" as Papa likes to say.
Opening his bubble lawn mower from Gammie and Papa.
Playing with the new car and book from Aunt Kiki and his cousins.
Looking super cool on his new motorcycle from Aunt Mimi and the Smith family.
We had a beach theme this year and here we are singing to Peanut with candles in his "sand pudding", which is pudding layered with crushed vanilla wafers and oreos. Yummy!
The next morning Peanut was hard at work mowing Papa's yard in his new outfit from Aunt Kiki.
Sunday was Peanut's actual birthday and it just so happened that it was the day the water park was available for his beach bash! We had 35 friends and we all had a blast. I think the grown ups had as much fun as the kids did.
There is a hot tub, a kiddie pool (pictured) and a deep pool with basketball hoops and a waterslide you can see in the background. It was so great that there was a pool and slide just right for Peanut's age and another for the big kids we invited! I did go down the big kid slide once and Peanut clapped for me.
Smile.
The kiddie pool had lots of sprayers that turned on and off and Peanut discovered the joy of stepping on the fountains to make them dissapear! The only not so great moment of the party was when I hit my head on the green tube you see here.
"Where did the water go?" when the fountains turned off. He got several surprise showers that day! He has been doing so well in swimming lessons (a recent Dolphin Pup level 2 graduate) and does not mind water in his face now. Perfect timing for a pool party!
Good friends relaxing in the hot tub. I enjoyed my time in there as well.
Some more friends enjoying some refreshments.
That is pudding on his forehead...
Opening lots of presents! He made quite a haul that day too...
It was such a fun day for everyone. One of my friends commented that it made her feel like she was on vacation. That made me so happy because that's exactly what I intended. A party to not only celebrate Peanut, but also to treat our friends to some fun. They are so important to us. It is incredible how having a child changes your world. Most of my best friends here I have met through Peanut's activities and classes. I was so happy that so many of them could join us to celebrate!
Peanut's birthday is such a happy time, but I have to admit that it makes me a little sad that my folks are so far away. I know that some year it will work out for them to be here right on the day, but this year it didn't. They sent Peanut the cutest action figure family and he loves pretending with them. His favorite make believe story is that the Mommy is going to the store to get cookies. We had a great Skype session with them though and Peanut knows exactly who they are and how much he loves them and that they love him back. That makes me happy.
Her he is...our 2 year old! He can speak in sentences, help with chores, throw a ball, count to 10, and so much more. He is learning so fast I sometimes feel like it's hard to keep ahead of him. His favorite is "What's that Mommy?" He loves to say hi to everyone he meets and bye bye and thank you. We are so proud of him and his sweet heart. There is nothing better than his hugs and kisses. Happy Birthday my love.
