turning two

I never knew that celebrating a two-year-old's birthday could be such fun! Seeing a birthday through the eyes of a small child makes each candle on the cake and piece of tissue paper in the wrapping an exciting new experience. It was important for me, the shopper in the family, to remember this. Annike's birthday was not about the toys she added to her collection, but instead about the celebration of life itself. That often involves the simplest of pleasures...

...like the egg the chickens laid for her!

...like riding on Papa's shoulders at the County fair with an apple in one hand, and a balloon "mousey" in the other.

...like petting the baby animals with both sets of grandparents in tow.

...like a visit from Oma and Opa, and serving them pretend tea.

...like blowing out the candles, or trying to anyway.

...like riding with one of her best little friends on her new tricycle (which was our big gift to her). Sharing the gift makes it so much more fun!

...like stripping down to the bare essentials at the end of the night.


The next day, we had a small "bug" party at the park, complete with ladybug cupcakes and butterfly wings, and of course, Annike's best little buddies.