Callie is "Twooooo"!

If you ask Callie how old she is, she will enthusiastically answer, "Twoooo!"  She will also hold up her two pointer fingers or attempt to hold up just two fingers on one hand.  This is an improvement from the first few times we tried it and she would hold up eight fingers each time.  I don't think she understands what being two means but she definitely understood it was her special weekend.  She was deep into wrapping paper from Friday (her actual birthday) through Saturday and then enjoyed opening all her birthday cards on Sunday.  Saturday was the especially festive day.  We had a barnyard themed birthday party for her and invited a bunch of her little friends.  We had eight kids and about 12 adults crammed in the house Saturday morning.  It had rained the night before and it was cool so we decided to keep everything inside and it all worked out just fine.  The kids enjoyed exploring the house and playing with Callie's ridiculous amount of toys.  Callie enjoyed seeing people in her house, although I think she was a little confused about why they were all there at first.  We had BBQ (thanks to Grammy!) and pigs-in-a-blanket and animal cupcakes that I made and animal-shaped cookies that my friend Mary made.  We ended the party with a very messy art activity which the kids seemed to enjoy much more than the adults.  All the mommies had trouble understanding my relaxed attitude towards paint messes!  Callie was sad and exhausted while saying goodbye to everyone but she had a great nap and woke-up later to another big surprise -- Daddy had put her swing set up in the backyard during her nap!  She is really enjoying her new outside toy and I will enjoy it much more when it is not covered in yellow pollen every day!  Callie is, so far, a pretty composed two year old.  No major terrible two moments yet (knock on wood!).  Here are some pictures of the fun weekend!  My parents weren't able to join us but Grammy, Grampy and Aunt Missy were there.  We just said a tearful goodbye this morning to Missy.  She is off to her new life and new baby (puppy) in Indianapolis.  We were glad that she was able to stick around for the party and we will miss her terribly!  I will post wedding pictures once I finally have a chance to sift through them all.

I spent an embarrassing amount of time online shopping for these balloons!  But they were worth it!

Mrs. Potato Head

 A football, emphasis on the word "foot".  She is trying to figure out why it is called that.

 Finally!  The present she had been snooping around and begging for since I bought it at a consignment sale --The Wonder Pets!

 A tiara from Aunt Missy

 ...and now for the big box!  Mommy's proud consignment shop find!  A village complete with a house, church, coffee shop and tons of people, plants and cars...all for just $30!

 Little Mermaid slippers from Grammy and Grampy!

 A princess soccer ball (we bought a lot of sports and outside toys this year.)

 Demonstrating for everyone how she says her prayers.

 A big girl basketball goal!  Pink and purple, of course!

 Time for the party...

Sara finally got a chance to wear the random costume that her Grandmother sent her.

The farmyard cake.  My first attempt at artsy cupcakes.  A lot of planning and sketching went into these!

 Pigs, sheep, purple cows and chickens.

 My friend Mary made these yummy cookies.

Callie got a new barn and animals for her birthday as well.

 What is happening???  Why are all these people in my house?

The balloons were a good source of amusement.

 My kitchen staff was a life saver!

 Callie's basketball goal was popular.

Callie stole away to her room and played by herself in true only-child fashion!

Matt stole away to his room and got out the "boy toys" for Matti and Noah.  We will have to invite them back to play with Matt and his action figures more often!  

The birthday girl is ready for her cupcake and birthday song!  (She also enjoyed some birthday Doritos for lunch!)

Digging right in this year!

 Playing with her horse cookie.

Noticing that other kids have different cookies and cupcakes.

"Maaamma, Maaaamma, Maaaamma" -- begging for what she didn't get!

Art Time!

Callie had no reservations about making a huge mess.

She was very sad to see everyone leave.

This is her special friend, Sara.  She reminds us so much of Brighton in her looks and her goofy personality.

The aftermath...

An empty and quiet house during nap time but...Daddy was putting together the swing set so more fun was in store!

Callie's reaction to seeing it for the first time.

Grampy got her a Clifford swing like they have at Tumbles.

 What a fun birthday!  She also got a trike from Nana and Papa, but I will save those pictures for another day!