Sam said to me today, while we were talking about how Vivi was born two years ago today, "Isn't it amazing how she's grown?" Ha, I love it when little kids say grown up things. We celebrated at home, just the four of us. I have to say, I think it was one of our most perfect birthdays yet.
I was going to invite some friends over, but in the end just felt like a quiet, family celebration. We were able to really focus on Vivi and each other and take things at a leaisurely, two-year-old pace. Even though it was just the four of us, I happened to come across a huge bag full of these paper flowers that a friend and I made for a church party once, so naturally I had to make a big old garland and birthday high chair for Vivi.
She had four gifts, one from Clay and I, one from Sam, and one from each set of grandparents. She opened one before dinner; it was the game Hungry Hungry Hippos, which was a HUGE hit:) They played that while I finished getting dinner on the table. I served leftovers, since I was focusing on cake-making and present wrapping, and of course, making 20ft. flower garlands. But I fancied it up with some bowls of berries, and veggies and dip, plus some pink lemonade (fresh lemon juice, honey and mashed up raspberries). The cake was a whole wheat, buttermilk, plum cake from Super Natural Everyday, which we LOVED. That whole book is fantastic.
After dinner, she opened Sam's present, a stroller for her baby doll- another hit! Clay and I got her a new outfit for the baby. The whole birthday felt rather extravagant since the kids don't have many toys to begin with. Getting four at once was kind of a big deal. But we did stretch it out and enjoy each one. She played with the stroller for awhile, then we opened the clothes and Clay helped her dress the doll up. Finally she opened those adorable bunnies from her other grandparents. I swear I had tiny bears from that very same company when I was a kid.
I think we might end up having more parties like this: small, simple, slow. It was just right.
PS Sam wanted to put the rabbit with the presents too:)
PPS Does anyone recognize that fabric? I didn't realize it while I was wrapping, but it's quite fitting!
