Party Girl

There is nothing more fun than watching your child run around and play with bubbles with a room full of her toddler friends. We had Catherine's 2nd birthday party last weekend at The McWane Science Center. It is one of her favorite places to go, so it was an easy decision when it came to party planning this year. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint!

Daddy driving C to her party

Watching the Vulcan ball machine while we wait

We were early (my fault) and had to wait for fifteen minutes before we could go back to the party room. Fifteen minutes is an eternity to a two year old, so she had a mini meltdown right before her party started. Poor thing. Waiting is hard.

But, as soon as she got a milk and was wheeled back to her room, she was a happy girl.

Bubbles AND goldfish?!

The room we got was perfect. The main activity set up was a big bubble table with tons of wands, but the room was also full of other activities for little ones. C got right to work!

Grocery shopping.

Bubble table with cousin Abigail

It was so much fun to see all of her friends playing. The funny thing about this age is that while they are often playing together, they are rarely playing together. Regardless, I think they all enjoyed themselves!

Drayton making bubbles

C working hard at the bubble table

C and Ben at the bubble table

Blowing bubbles with our sweet party helper

Abby and Catherine

Ben at the bubble table

When it was time for cake and singing, Catherine was a little shy, until she heard her name. Then she got excited. She worked so hard to blow out those two candles (then Mommy helped a little)!

Yummmmm. Cake and Ice cream!

Enjoying cake with London, Sara, Abigail, and Connor

Sharing with Aunt Heather

Daddy's girl.

London and Sara

Calton and Ben enjoying a snack

It was so much fun to be surrounded by family and friends. I didn't get nearly enough photos of Catherine with everyone (including one with Mommy and Daddy), but I am so grateful for a room full of people we love and I know she had a blast.

CiCi, Aunt Mallory, and Mommy with the birthday girl

Catherine and all of her honorary "aunts"

After the official party was over, everyone was free to roam and play in the McWane Center. Catherine pretty much parked it at the water table - her favorite spot. It was such a fun party!

GiGi and Poppy

Water table concentration

Playing with CiCi

Showing Cousin Major and Uncle Mitchell how it's done.

Sand table with Aunt Jenn

Being silly with Poppa

High five, Mim!

Headed home for more fun!

Sleepy birthday girl on the way home (her only nap of the day)!

Making Lemonade

We moved across town over two years ago and it somehow never occurred to me to update my voter registration. So, I checked online last night just to be sure and (oops) am still registered on the other side of town.

Well, if I'm driving 20-30 minutes with Miss C, I'm making it count! So, we made lunch plans with my friend Heather, whose office is downtown; and, we planned to spend the afternoon at the McWane Center.

C fell asleep on the way to the poll and stayed asleep on my shoulder while I voted. Even sleeping, she got an "I Voted" sticker! Then, we met Heather at Surin for some delicious Thai. Yummmm!

Then, off to the McWane Center! She was so tired, but as soon as we walked in the lobby, she started running. We spent a lot of time with Clifford; spent a little time with the giant Lite Brite; lay on a bed of nails; and then got SOAKED at the water table and bubble station.

Her dress was so soapy and wet with bubble solution that we bought a t-shirt in the gift shop on the way out. We're now the proud owners of a blue dinosaur shirt! C napped in her cozy new t-shirt all the way home. Now, my goal is to keep her awake long enough to avoid a 4:30 wake up call again in the morning!

So, even though I feel like an idiot for forgetting to update my info, at least we enjoyed our day downtown! Plus, we like any activity that comes with a sticker.

P.S. We voted for Elmo

Mommy and Me Time

Let's face it, most days are "Mommy and Me" days; but the past few days, we have gone into activity overdrive to make up for Monday stuck inside with a stomach bug. Mommy is pretty warn out today, but it was so worth it!

The weather has been perfect (making our inside sick day even harder to bear), so my goal for Tuesday was to spend as much time outside as possible.

We spent the morning running around the backyard, playing with balls, looking at birds, and laughing at Banks. We ate lunch outside and, after nap time and a snack, we painted outside! I cut the ends off of a celery stalk and a potato to use as stencils; I put her in an old t-shirt, gave her the stencils, brush, and a plate of paint; and I let her do her thing!

Wednesday, we headed to iJump to play with some friends. She had never been in any kind of bouncy house, so I wasn't sure how it would go. But, this girl loves to hop and jump around the house and jumping is pretty much her signature dance move, so I had high hopes. Well, she loved it! She was a bit apprehensive about some things (she will not, under any circumstances, crawl through a tunnel), but overall, she had a blast jumping and running around with Sara and Lyla. Her favorite thing there? The ball pit - just a bigger version of what we have in our living room!

Thursday, we started our day as usual with Kindermusik. I needed to run an errand afterward, so we made a lunch stop first at Edgar's. I got her the usual grilled cheese, but she actually ate most of my chicken instead (big day!); and no trip to Edgar's is complete without a treat. She picked a skeleton cookie. Yummmm!

We planned to go to the McWane Center that evening for an opening of their new Clifford, the Big Red Dog exhibit, so our friend Sara came over to play before we all headed that way.

Then, it was time for Clifford! The girls ran wild in the exhibit. It was a lot of fun and a nice change up to our usual low key evenings.

Whew. It's been a fun week! I'm so lucky to get to spend my days playing with this little angel.