Colin turned the big 'two' on the 5th. We had originally planned, a long, long time ago, that we would take the family to the Denver Aquarium (just like we did two years ago when Owen turned two), and then celebrate with dinner out afterwards.
This birthday wasn't exactly a disaster, but nothing went according to plan.
1. In November, the scout troop drafted their new activity calendar for the coming year, and we saw that Colin's birthday fell on the last day of the Klondike campout. We vowed to carry on. We would just delay the festivities until Dean and Jordan got home at noon. Now that we have experienced what a Klondike is like, we know that the thought of doing anything after that experience is a mistake. After shivering in sub-zero temps for two solid days (and not be accustomed to doing so), you are absolutely physically drained.
2. The Superbowl. Nice to know that the two events (Superbowl AND Birthday) will likely coincide every few years. I suppose that blending the two would make it double the fun - in the future. But this little guy was turning two and he isn't much into football yet (no matter what his daddy says). I had already sent out the Evites to the family when I realized that the Superbowl was the same day. To my family's credit, everyone said carry on with the party - we'll be there!.... (unless the Broncos are playing). This would have actually worked out quite well because the aquarium would have been considerably less busy on a Superbowl Sunday afternoon.
3. Snow. Lots of it. Snow started to fall on Friday eve. While we got 8 inches here, down in Denver they got about 22 inches. The restaurant we had made our reservation with was closed on Saturday due to the adverse conditions. No idea if they would be open on Sunday. With all of that snow, driving and parking would have been a nightmare. The snow and frigid cold also meant that Dean and Jordan were having just that much more of an ordeal on the Klondike.
4. Drama. I hate drama. Whenever it happens, it just seeps under my skin and permeates everything with an ugly sort of pallor. I can't focus on the happiness at hand. I'm busy drafting arguments and rebuttals in my head. I'm tense, forgetful and completely distracted. There has been too much drama lately about a personal matter, and it came to a head that weekend - and my husband (my sounding board and my tether) was gone camping, so it got extra mean and nasty. I was angry, angry, angry. So very angry. An angry momma can't really get into the birthday spirit.
I called off the party on Saturday afternoon (in light of the snow), and decided we would make the best of it at home and enjoy the Superbowl as well. Low and behold, on Sunday morning, my dad called and asked if he and my stepmom could bring over a birthday breakfast spread. (Yes!!). I held my baby boy, kissed his two year old cheek and wished him a happy birthday. Soon enough my dad and stepmom were coming through the door with waffle irons, sourdough batter, bacon, cherry syrup and more. I was on the phone, hashing through the previous night's drama with a friend, and as I did dishes they cooked up a storm and soon enough we were eating a wonderful breakfast. It was such a relief that I was in tears. I was also really, really tired. Too many sleepless nights and high doses of stress.
Soon after the breakfast dishes were cleared it was time to pick up two very cold and tired campers. Jordan earned a combined total of 90 frost points for the campout. Some gear was still frozen solid. The plastic windows in Dean's rainfly cracked from the cold. Lots of food, that froze inside the cooler, had to be chucked. But the campout was deemed a success.
Rylan and I spent the rest of the afternoon running errands and then I came home and started prepping the food for the game. We had hummus dip with flatbread, cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers, chips and salsa, and pulled pork sandwiches. My mom came over just after the game started, with a beautiful chocolate cake in hand for the birthday boy. I had intended to make a cake (I'm a stickler about that), but I just didn't have it in me that night.
Colin was doing great until about the time we were ready to eat. He was tired and cranky and then he just lost it. A major crying fit ensued, and it was difficult to get him to pull it together in time for the birthday video chat with his grandparents in Oklahoma. He managed to stop crying and take an interest in his cake, so we lit the candles and all sang while he took swipes at the chocolate frosting with his finger.
The Birthday do-over
So this past weekend was the do-over. We met my aunties at the Denver Aquarium on Sunday afternoon, and took a leisurely pace through the exhibits.
Here was Owen on his second birthday two years ago:
Here was Colin, just this past Sunday, one week past his second birthday:
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| Colin with his great Auntie Cheryl |
Notice anything? I swear I didn't dress him. Jordan did. Although at this point, Colin is too tall for the brown overalls portion of this outfit, and outgrew those boots (passed down from Owen) last summer. Colin *LOVED* the aquarium. We had seven adults in our party, and four kids. Even with that ratio we were outnumbered. There were kids darting everywhere, and we were constantly switching it up as to who was watching out for who. Chaos and fun at the same time.
Owen spent quite a bit of time with his favorite pal...
Owen just loves this guy. He did NOT want to leave him. We spent a good twenty minutes looking at him. I think he remembers him from last time...
We finished the day with an awesome meal at Cinzetti's, where we were joined by several more family members. I made a Grasshopper Cake (white cake with mint flavoring, a layer of hot fudge topping and topped off with tinted whip cream and Andes Mints.) and Colin and his great Auntie Kathy each blew out their candles. (Aunt Kathy's birthday is tomorrow)
A MUCH better day, all the way around. Colin (ahem) asked for birthday money this year so that he could put it towards an annual family membership to the Denver Zoo. He has enough to get the membership and purchase a nice gift at the zoo gift shop. Can't wait to go - he LOVES the zoo!
So I think this was definitely a success. It fit all of the important birthday party criteria:
1. It was not at my house. (don't have to clean!)
2. We went to a restaurant. (don't have to cook!)
3. I made the cake. (this is just a personal thing for me - I love making birthday cakes. I didn't say I was good at decorating them - I just like homemade cake)
4. We kept it simple: party favors were little Valentine bags filled will several pieces of Valentine candy, enough for every person there (not just for the kids).
5. And most important of all: family was there to make it special and fun - which is what matters most.
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