A bunny, a roo, and two little beans too.: Matea’s Birthday Bash!

Matea’s official birthday bash was the weekend after her birthday (you can pull off that kind of delay when they are only two). Grandpa Bob and Grandma Sherry came in for the day, and Uncle Scott and Aunt Jill and the boys were also up from Ohio to join the festivities. As usual we had lots to eat and lots of fun.

Matea’s present opening was a little chaotic, as she had a 5 year old “present boy” who wanted to help her opening everything as quickly as possible. She made a haul, once again, and they kids are having fun playing with everything.

Matea got a personalized bag, which she now carries everywhere, and a baby that play peek-a-boo. You have to touch the forehead to make it work, and Uncle Jeff discovered that head butting the baby works great too. Good thing my kids are past the baby stage, right? Or else no more kid-watching for Uncle Jeff. :)

Let the party begin!

Pretty bag for a pretty girl!

“Baby out!”

I don’t have any bottles, so I’ll feed my baby sprinkles.

She looks old enough to drive, don’t you think?

Matea also got a motorcycle ride-on toy, which she was all excited about and now won’t ride (she’s too short to make it go and then it just tips over).

Matea is now ripping with gusto!

I’m going to be a biker babe!

And Eli bought Matea more sidewalk chalk and chalk tools to play with, since Matea loves loves loves chalk. He picked out the chalk himself and even wanted to pay for it, but Mommy and Daddy subsidized it for him.

Chalk, chalk, and more chalk.

All the way from California, Uncle Jeremy sent Matea play food for her kitchen. Nice sturdy play food since she has trashed all the cheap plastic and cardboard ones Eli had. And Uncle Jeremy sent a children’s book written by his friend from college!

I’ve discovered where food comes from. From Uncle Jeremy in California!

Almost as tasty as the real thing!

And from Grandpa Bob and Grandma Sherry came a grocery store/lemonade stand (the sign reverses)! The grocery store was the hit of the party, and Matea LOVES LOVES LOVES it!

My store is sweet!

Lexi and Matea start arranging all the food.

“Mine!” Sharing is not one of my strengths.

The last gift of the party was a pink battery-powered quad from Mommy and Daddy. Matea had played on one at Catherine’s house the week before and seemed to like it, and, quite frankly, we were out of ideas of what to get her. Since it was on sale at Target we went for it. I think so far Eli has enjoyed it more, but Matea does like it. She’s still getting the hang of holding the button in to keep going. Right now she just presses the button, moves about one foot, smiles and squeals, and then says, “no, no, no,” when it stops. She’ll get the hang of it soon though I think!

Daddy explains the finer points of operating her quad.

This is fun! Here I go!

I was simply too busy to make Matea a cake this time, so Costco came to the rescue with a princess birthday cake. It still served it’s purpose and tasted great, and she seemed to like it! She couldn’t quite get the candles blown out, so Daddy helped. At first she ate all dainty with a fork, and then she dug in once she figured out that she liked the taste!