Birthdays are pretty fun with little kids. No expectations on their part. They are so happy with anything they get and, most of all, the special attention.Will's birthday was so great because it was the first birthday that he really "got it" that this was his special day. He has clued in to birthday traditions for other people - he has a cute habit of singing "Happy birthday" whenever he sees any type of candle (including the citronella one on my back deck) - but it was a hoot to get to sing it just for him this time.
His birthday weekend started out with the arrival of the beloved Grandma Kim & Papa Bob - who made the marathon 12-hour drive to celebrate with us for a few days. Thursday was ripe with anticipation at the Barrett house as the boys started checking for their grandparents at the window at 8am - when they finally pulled into the drive at 4pm, the boys were ecstatic.
Of course, they came bearing gifts:
On Friday morning - the 31st of July - we started out with a special birthday breakfast of french toast with berries - complete with the #2 candle and the requisite "Happy Birthday" song. It was a little "test run" for the big party scheduled for the next day. Will needed a little instruction in the art of blowing out birthday candles. Jared was happy to oblige:
After breakfast Grandma Kim came with us to the Phoenix Children's Museum (Papa Bob was pretty tired after driving until 4am the night before - yikes!). The Museum was pretty packed as per usual, but oh so much fun ...
(don't you just love the #2 shirt Will's Gigi made him?? Jared is already asking for one for when he turns "4")
My little engineer could have stayed with the pipes and air and ping pong balls all day. He loves figuring out how this works - and figuring out how to make that ball come back down when he wants it!
The scarves are always a big hit!
After all the action downstairs, the boys enjoyed a quiet story-time moment with Grandma Kim.
Then we did a little grocery shopping ...
...Of course, Will decided he would rather "work it" behind the counter than spend "money" on groceries. He was enthralled with the toy cash register.
Another one of Will's fave's are the trains - he loves watching them clink clink down the tracks.
...It was absolutely perfect that Grandma Kim was able to go with us and play at the Children's Museum. We had been so looking forward to taking her!
Daddy was able to meet us for some frozen yogurt at our favorite yogurt shop (A Touch of Yogurt) after we tired of the Museum. John & Marcia were happy to spoil the boys for Will's birthday with their swirl yogurts with sprinkles. I'm afraid we could be starting a habit with this little treat, but today was quite the special occasion ...
... and it made this birthday boy sooo happy!
We celebrated with a pizza dinner and some gifts with just our little family and the grandparents on Friday night. Again, another test run for Will to get ready for the big event (and a good time for Jared to practice self control, too, as it was not his birthday).
Will's favorite part of opening gifts on Friday night?
Throwing the bags and the tissue paper in the air like he does at the Children's Museum. Not quite the same effect as when those scarves float down from on high - but it just goes to show that children are simple, simple creatures. They'd so much rather play than have tons of "stuff" ... don't we all love this about them?
WOO HOO!!! CELEBRATE!!!
"Baby Will" is finally TWO!!
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