Two's Not So Terrible!

Noah's been looking forward to his birthday for awhile...  He had gotten into the habit of saying "Noah almost two" when people asked how old he is (or sometimes even when they didn't ask).  He got to go to Ellia's birthday party, and a few other friends' parties, so he got the general idea of birthdays.  When we would ask him what he wanted for his birtday, he told us, "Cake."  After several times of asking him what he wanted for his birthday, he did eventually add to his answer, telling us he wanted "Cake and toys."  But perhaps more than anything else about birthdays, he really likes singing Happy Birthday...

And then finally, the day came to party.  Grandma and Grandpa Asai came in from Portland.  Grandma and Grandpa Egle were there, too.  And so were Ellia and parents!  And who knew that by the age of two, kids already have a full cadre of other little two-year-olds that they're friends with!  The turn-out was probably about the same number of people as his first party, but suddenly, all the little babies were running around and throwing things and jumping and talking, and doing all sorts of things that they weren't last year!

Take Ellia, for example.  Last year, she was barely talking... now, she's gotten her medical degree and was performing full physical exams.

Yes, a good physical exam includes a haircut!

Noah's train table was a big hit... kept the troops entertained till the food was ready.

Pranit has graduated from bottles of milk to cans of Pepsi

The food was delicious, but after a filling meal of lasagna, everyone needed to burn some energy.  What better way than a walk?

And what better destination for a walk than a park with lots of fallen leaves?

And if there weren't enough leaves Mark was happy to make more fall down!

And then, since all the kids were tired from playing for so long, they had to all go down for naps, right?  Heck no!  This was a birthday party!  Time to load them up with sugar until they bounce off the walls again!  WAHOO!!!

He may look a little dazed, but it's really just focused.

Getting a sugar buzz

And then, as requested, the second half of "Cake and toys"!

And yes, the adage is true that often times the box is more exciting than whatever was inside.  Especially when the box is bigger than the person opening it...  And SUPER ESPECIALLY when the box is bigger than the person who opens it AND his cousin combined.

But what the adage fails to emphasize is that while the box is cool, its contents can be pretty darn cool, too...

Noah was happy.  It was his birthday.  It was a happy birthday.