The Little One is 2!

Happy Birthday, Aiden!

I can't believe it is time to celebrate Aiden's 2nd birthday already.  In one way it seems so strange that two years has gone by so quickly, but on the other hand I can't imagine my life without this little guy.  

He can be shy in public, but he can also be very loud and boisterous.  He loves his family and close friends so much.  Especially Alex.  Whenever Alex leaves he sadly asks, "Where Alec"?  He loves to cuddle.  I try not to spoil him too much, but I don't care about this part of spoiling.  Every night before bed we rock in the rocking chair ("Wok, Mommy") and sing You Are My Sunshine.  He even sings along, as much as he can.  If it isn't the right word, it he fluctuates his voice in the same tune as me (which isn't easy to do).

My little monkey will be two on Monday.  Until then, he is still my little one year old.  I am in no rush for him to grow up.

There is nothing my little guy loves more than the sight of green and yellow on a tractor! The whole time I was decorating for this party I was thanking God the Packers were not in the Superbowl since his party was Superbowl weekend. We wouldn't want to decorate in green and gold then. At the sight of a tractor he will yell, "Tracker!" and be all smiles.  Tractor was one of his very first words.

   

A lot of people volunteered to help and do something.  I love that.  I will never turn anyone down. A friend I met a few years ago and who has a son 2 months younger than Aiden, brought over a little ride on tractor, a banner she made herself for Aiden's party and an adorable John Deere bib she made for her son last year.  What a thoughtful and generous friend.  I hope to be able to repay her. We had a lot of different food, but Andy made the delicious turkey and ham.  Both my mom and mother-in-law helped with getting everything ready to make my little guy's second birthday so special!

Aiden was having such a good time with his cousins and friend, Emily.  Running around, grabbing food off the tables and playing on the tractors.

It would not be a party without Grandma Guse's delicious cakes. 

I bought some food labels off an online Etsy store.  I tried making them myself, but the ones online were way cuter.  I love having fun with food and playing with words for unique labels.

It was freezing outside, but we were lucky again to be able to count on our garage for extra space.  I made a 2 out of a Styrofoam board, coffee filters and spray paint.  Something from Pinterest, of course. My friend and co-worker, Vanessa, grew up on a farm and her parents let us borrow some hay for the day.  The kids loved it!  They were a little afraid of sitting on it and tipping it over though.

We also had a tractor pinata.  No suckers this time, just hard candy.  You think I would learn.  Whatever.  The kids had a good time with it and luckily this tractor was a little easier to break than the baseball.

As part of the goody bags for the kids, they all received a mustache.  Aiden absolutely did not like it.  Alex was not a big fan either.  The older kids thought it was fun though.  They took a picture with Grandpa who happens to have a real beard. 

The little man had lots of fun presents to open. His family and friends know how to spoil the kid.  He got lots of nice new tractors and fun other toys.  He is starting to get into his presents a little more which is fun to see.  He got a new Elmo guitar and did not want anyone else to play with it. So, he sat on it while he opened his other presents.

Finally...time for cake!  We had been singing "Happy Birthday" all week, but Aiden looked in shock when all thirty people starting singing to him.  But, he did manage to blow the candle out by himself.  In the end, the party was a lot of work but totally worth it.  I would do it all over again. I hope the boys are both able to look back on their birthdays and remember how special we think they are.  Happy birthday, Little one!