Evan's 2nd Birthday... a 4 week event

Evan's birthday was almost a month long event.

It started the weekend before his birthday when Grandma Barbi and Grandpa Ed visited. Unfortunately, they weren't able to visit with us for too long, but we made the most of the time we had. (I managed to not get a single picture of them. Boo.)  Evan got some quality Grandma/Grandpa time and we had birthday cupcakes and opened presents (from Grandma and Grandpa, and Uncle Randy and Aunt Jessie.) Evan got some cool wooden puzzle-ish toys (my fave). He's excited about knowing his shapes and colors, so they're perfect!

And this is how my kid, the strangest kid
in the world, feels about cupcakes. Gross!

His unwrapping skills have gotten ever
so slightly better since Christmas.

Later in the week, Evan received a package from Aunt Annie and Michaela.

On Evan's actual birthday, he woke up to a new balance bike and a bag full of super hero t-shirts. He officially has enough super hero shirts to wear one every day of the week... and then some! David made birthday pancakes for breakfast and for lunch we went to Firehouse Subs to get Evan a free sub for his birthday.

"Who cares about a bike when I have a book?!" 

Birthday Pancakes! 

After his nap, his friends Cameron and Maddie (Jodie's) and Ephram and Simon (Leah's) joined us for cake and presents. Of course, it was a Super Evan cake. Interestingly, both sets of siblings got him Legos for his birthday, and so did his friends Isaac and Colton! After some playing at the house, the weather cleared up and we went to the park with Ephram and Simon. (Side note: With a late July birthday, this may be the only time in his life that Evan's birthday is rainy with temps in the lower 70s!)

The weather on the day after his birthday was much nicer so we joined David at auto-crossing. Evan really enjoyed seeing Racer Daddy. And eating chicken nuggets for lunch at Old McDonald's. (How do kids naturally know that McDonald's is garbage and they should be excited about getting to eat it?)

Two weeks later, Grandma Janet, Papaw Mike and Uncle Cosby visited. Evan had been anticipating their visit for a long time so I was very excited to take my mom with me to pick him up from daycare on Friday after they got here. He was cautiously excited to see her. And equally cautious when we got home and Papaw was sitting on the couch.

They brought with them the (surprisingly) best gift ever-- a grocery cart. Evan is so excited about his "Meijer Cart". Clearly, we spend too much time at Meijer. The day after he got it, instead of yelling "Mooooommy!" in the morning, he yelled "Puuush the Meiiiiijer cart!" Who knew it would be such a hit?! That was also a pretty good icebreaker. Note: if you want to get in good with Evan, bring him a grocery cart. Or maybe some other kid version of an adult thing? Maybe a play kitchen? Maybe a kid-sized car? Who knows.

"Oh, hey. I'm just shopping with George." 

Reading with Grandma

Uncle Cosby

Evan and Papaw treed a squirrel!
Just kidding... I think. 

We did lots of park visiting while Grandma and Papaw were here... because that's what we do when Grandma and Papaw aren't here. It was a great visit.

I'm pretty sure Evan had a fantastic second birthday, and that makes Mommy happy. I'm so glad he got to celebrate with family and friends.

Proud Parents [July 29, 2011]

Proud Parents [July 29, 2012]

Proud Parents [July 27, 2012]