Day 169 (6/18/2011) - Gavin's 2nd Birthday Party

We hosted a Sesame Street-themed party to celebrate Gavin's 2nd birthday.  Given his fondness for Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird, in particular, I got decorations and made cupcakes featuring his favorite characters.  Before opening presents and having cake, we had a good old fashioned cookout complete with potato chips, coleslaw, potato salad, and hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill.  We figured we'd offer food that the boys would actually eat and a BBQ seemed more appropriate than chicken nuggets and goldfish!

Here's the birthday boy!  A year has passed, how time has flown; we can't believe how much Gavin has grown!

Present time!  Both boys are spoiled by their overly generous grandparents and aunts and uncles!  There were so many gifts for Gavin to open, and, much to Ryan's dismay, Gavin was old enough to do most of the unwrapping himself!

Although Gavin isn't old enough to appreciate them yet, I sure am grateful for all the cute clothes he received! 

In keeping with the theme of the party, many of Gavin's gifts were Elmo related (Elmo Play Doh, doctor kit, Lego kits, books, clothes). 

A milestone moment:  Gavin receives his first pair of Adidas Sambas from Mom Mom.

Gavin asks Granny to read him his birthday card.  Both boys are incredibly fortunate to have two great-grandmothers still living! 

While he may be another year older, he's no less messy when eating cake!  Since he was wearing white (which is a pretty brave (or unwise) color choice for a rambunctious two-year old!) we removed his shirt for cake time.  Although his face and hands were covered with icing and cupcake crumbs, at least he did not require a bath this year!

"Here, there and everywhere,
Up and down and all around.
So hard to contain that boy these days!
And he'll soon start that Terrible Two phase.
Here comes Trouble, on the run,
from morning until day is done.
Yet, cute as a bug and so loveable too,
We're grateful to share his birthday with all of YOU!"