Birthday Blitz: In Which We Attempt To Determine Just How Many Photos Blogger Will Allow You To Upload In A Single Post

I'm not feeling very wordy today.

So, I'm just going to give a brief recap of the birthday bonanza that's been going on around here lately and then bombard you with a bajillion photos.

And yes, I could have thrown a few more "b" words into the above sentence. Brilliantly, I might add.

Wait, what were we talking about? Oh yes!

Birthday Numero Uno: August 1st. Eden's actual birthday. We woke her up by bringing her a blueberry muffin with a two-shaped candle and singing Happy Birthday (as opposed to, I don't know, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, says Captain Obvious). After Peter blew out the candle - she wasn't getting anywhere near that flame, which I was perfectly okay with - we took her to church where she was serenaded with happy birthday songs at least two more times and received her first present (an adorable musical tea set). We took her home, fed her lunch, and let her open a few more presents from us as well as one present from my mom, before putting her down for a nap. While she was sleeping I made her a dirt cake complete with gummy worms. It looked awesome. Then we went to a church get-together out at a beautiful house in the country where she made a bunch of new little friends and was introduced to lightning bugs and fishing. It was after 10 pm before she went to bed, but all in all I'd say she had a great day.

Birthday Numero Dos: August 14th. Joint birthday party for Eden and her cousin, Cedric, who is basically turning three as we speak. This would be the party I referenced in my last post - the one that contributed to a series of ridiculous stress-induced nightmares. I'm happy to say that due to the hard work and creativity of many of my family members (particularly, Laura, Cedric's mom, who posted about the day here) the party went off beautifully and was a smashing success. (Also, Eden successfully blew out her candle at this party without any hesitation or help. I was proud as punch.) While the kids were napping I unwrapped presents from my family for my own birthday, which was...

Birthday Numero Tres: August 16th. My thirty-first birthday. (Ugh. Not feeling nearly as chipper about the aging process this time around as I was last year.) A surprisingly fun-filled day as we hadn't really made any big plans. Peter let me sleep in and then cooked me breakfast, and my aforementioned sister-in-law, Laura, brought Cedric up for a surprise visit. We went to a park and let Cedric ride his new bicycle around the paved path while I pushed Eden beside him on his old tricycle. After lunch and naps, Laura and Cedric headed home and Pete, Eden, and I headed out to dinner. Once Eden was in bed Pete got me a Peanut Buster Parfait from DQ and we discussed the Hunger Games t-shirt that he is going to make for me. My other birthday present from Pete is the third and final book in the Hunger Games series, Mockingjay, which is released on August 24th. It is being overnighted to our house, and Pete has promised to provide me with lots of uninterrupted reading time when it arrives. I am ridiculously excited about both of these presents.

Okay, this post is actually already a lot longer than I anticipated. Perhaps my boasts of brevity were bogus. Ha! Yeah, now I'm actually just annoying myself.

Photos! Here!

Birthday Number 1:
I had a last minute genius idea to buy Eden some Sesame Street shirts when I saw them on sale in a store the night before. She loves them! Probably her favorite present from us.

The below blurriness is caused by a dance of pure happiness.
And here Eden takes the term birthday bash to a whole new level...
Birthday Number 2: There was an Elmo/Super Grover/Curious George theme in case you can't tell. Many decorations were handmade by the ever-awesome Laura.
The haul! In all honesty, in all the birthday planning it never really crossed my mind that we would be bringing home a ton of presents. I don't know, I was somehow thinking she would get five or six things, max? You know, one item per attending family?
And! AANNNNDDD!! She got more stuff! From people at church and from California friends:
We're considering selling a few on eBay and retiring early.

I jest!

We're considering selling them all and retiring period.

Really, why do you read this blog?

Anyway, I think that's about it for the birthday recap. You should have enough photos to last you until Eden's next birthday when we are hoping she will receive a Ferrari and/or a house.

My baby! How can she possibly already be two-years-old???

Love to you all!

The birthday girls -- 8/18/2010