My Lolly is Two

I owe you a birthday party post and we will get there. It was great, with amazing friends, food for 50, educational activities and 25 pounds of a bean sensory bin that we will keep for months to come. But, tonight, lets talk about my little lady and the day we have given her as a family.

We started with birthday muffins that were a hit while still being whole wheat and maple syrup sweetened. (Don't worry, we overindulged in refined sugars just before bed.) Then my littles were off to school. They were happy to go. It is a new, welcomed turn around that has made the last 10 days remarkable. It was also our first school-day birthday. It was bizarre to say the least. I think I told every person at work that my baby was 2. TWO! Here we are just before heading out the door. (Sometimes, she likes me.)

After school. we headed downtown to the Central Library. There were a few travel books there to pick up and the kids just enjoy new places. So, we ran. And played chase. And pulled leaves. It was fun and freeing and buses and trolleys were all around. It was a perfect outing for a two year old.

This little guy also loved it. He just doesn't love the camera.

He does not trust easily. She can go either way, but she's all in once she decides!

Finally, a smile!

Then, there was lots and lots of this.

But then we had the incident where Zahra "mysteriously" fell to the ground and bit off a small piece of her lip (tiny, really, but a piece) which she then placed in my hand. Like a champ. While blood poured from her face, she just kept saying, "I am hurt. I need to go to Dr. DeSoto." (If you didn't grow up with the book, he is a mouse dentist who treats other animals and outfoxes a fox.)

After a wonderful dinner with neighborhood friends, it was home for family time, three presents, and cake. Here is Zayd singing.

And Zahra wishing. I have never seen anything more beautiful.

A quick mid-cake coma, and then on to gifts.

This is Zahra opening her first gift. This was the first time I have watched her methodically unwrap something. She has gotten the wrapping off before, but this was new. I loved discovering it. Apparently, this is her concentrating face.

She was really happy to receive a box (which was actually a Melissa and Doug play-do set). She liked it even more when I turned it over.

A little play time with toy #1.

Then on to toy #2: kinetic sand. They are in love already. He might need his own...

And lastly, books. They each got 7 Eric Carle books which were actually courtesy of NiNi. They were the biggest hit of the evening. 

And, then, there was this. There really needn't be any more anything when this is how you get to end your day. Happy birthday to my sweet lovely and love to the boys who love her most.