Happy 2nd Birthday Avery Claire!

Avery turned two last Friday, November 7th but we waited and celebrated with a little party on Saturday. My parents drove up from the Bluffton area to make it an extra special day. It was a gorgeous day out, definitely short-sleeve weather so we spent a majority of time relaxing on the screened porch out back.

No party is a good party without food, so we fixed up a lunch menu fitting for fall. The table was set with roasted pumpkin seeds, Chex mix, chicken bog (Southern chicken and rice dish that makes enough food and leftovers for several large families) ...

A mixed greens tossed salad...

and of course, the birthday dessert...cupcakes!

I hit up Target and Walmart's Halloween/Thanksgiving bargain bins since it's all about Christmas now, and got many different fall themed sprinkles to decorate the cupcakes with. I even picked up a large container of Halloween themed sprinkles (purple, orange, black and green) to save for next year's festivities. I am so excited! See, it doesn't take much nowadays!

Avery opened her many gifts out back on the porch and received lots and lots of goodies including bath toys, a new pink tricycle just her size (and obviously just Emma's size too since she is quick to claim the new bike anytime she can get away with it!), a beautiful dress and shirt, a new "big girl" handbag with lots of matching hair accessories, play-dough, dress-up clothes and the Sock Monkey.

The Sock Monkey is already rather popular since it travels with us a good bit in the car now and it even has it's own theme song that Emma sings, "Sock Monkey...you funky monkey...Sock Monkey...you funky monkey!"

Emma and Ryan were right on hand to help their little sister open all presents. They are just naturally sweet...jealous...I mean, sweet.

Grandma helped the girls get set up outside with the new Play-dough that they thoroughly enjoyed playing with, although most of it is stuck to our wooden floor boards now. (I keep meaning to clean it up, I swear!)

Then it was time to whip out the candles and sing "Happy Birthday" with NO cha-cha-cha's, as demanded and requested by Ryan. The cha-cha-cha's are just plain lame I guess. He's real popular in his first grade class!

The kids have been enjoying the continued overload of sugar products in our house. Someones got to eat the darn things so better them than me is what I think!

Avery had a terrific second birthday. I am still stunned that my little baby is now two but that's how it goes. A big thank you to Grandma and Grandpa O'Brien for their visit! We missed you Papa and Nana and look forward to seeing you soon.