Z is TWO!!

So, this past Sunday, little Z turned the big 0-2.  It's amazing how fast time has gone by, despite early-onset-terrible-twos I am enjoying every minute of life with a "big" boy these days.  His birthday party was "Finding Nemo" themed because a) he loves the movie, even if the barracuda scares him every.single.time. b) it was a pool party.  What we learned is that when mommy gets hold of a theme, she runs with it.. perhaps too far, but the kiddos had fun regardless, so that's all that counts :).

We had crafts and activities at the beginning of the party to break the ice, we made paper Dorys to get the kiddos in the mood.  I also made a fishing game with magnets, lures, fishing poles, the works.. this took FOREVER.. naturally, the kids were not interested in fishing, and demonstrated to me that they could just pick up the fish with their hands.  Thanks, glad you pointed that out kiddos, I'll just go cry in a corner about the HOURS I spent making this game :p.  Obviously there are no pictures of the kids "fishing".

There was extensive hand-bought decor, all in the Nemo theme of course, notice the streamers under the half-wall emulating "water" as we are in Nemo's world now.. yes I *told* you I took the theme too far..
I LOVE a personal touch, so I made coloring books for the kiddos with their names on them commemorating the day as favors, and since it was back-to-school time, everyone got a 25cent box of crayons to go with..

We moved the party outside when the kiddos got restless, unfortunately due to some cool nights, our pool had cooled off to a *frigid* (yes we're Arizonans) 84 degrees, so we rode the E.A.C. for a bit and then got our buns outta there

Yes the turtle was theme oriented, but it was CHEAP because Target put all their pool stuff on clearance for end-of-season, even though it's still over 100 outside :p

Then the kids decided they'd play their *own* game, which was line up and race up and down the backyard as fast as you can..

Yes, he has Nemo swim trunks and a swim shirt on, did I mention I got carried away with the theme?

After some pizza we moved it back inside for the BIG REVEAL of our gift to little Z.. a fish tank!

He was, and still is, VERY excited about the fishies!!  One of the platys we got has a spot on it's tail that looks like mickey mouse, like so:

Just *imagine* how exciting this is for little Z after having *just* been to the magic kingdom, every morning he looks for the "mickey fishy".

We finished the fiesta off with a fantastic Nemo cake by a local bakery, it looked FANTASTIC, and it tasted just as good, a vast upgrade over the Safeway shenanigans we dealt with last year, this will be our new go-to cakery

Z had a GREAT time at his par-tay, and we feel so lucky to have shared it with such good friends.  Here's wishing you an EVEN better second year than the first little man, we love you VERY much :).

Z takes on FLORIDA...

The last two weeks have been a birthday EXTRAVAGANZA for little Z.  We flew ACROSS the country to Florida to visit my family for Labor Day weekend where Z was doted on, and essentially spoiled rotten.  He got to experience his first GATOR game!!

 

The Gators pulled out the win, although Z only maintained composure for the 1st quarter where he could go up and down the bleachers, as soon as the seats filled in, he turned into the little boy who cried "potty!".  Z quickly realized that if he cried "potty!" even if he didn't actually have to go, we would get up and let him walk in the concourse :p.  We made it until halftime thanks to Grandpa and Nana, and bailed to let the little man have some freedom.

Then 2 days later and still in FL, Grandpa and Nana INSISTED on taking Z to Disney World as his birthday gift.  He LOVED it!  We saw the "castle!!"...

We went on the Buzz Lightyear "to the rescue!!" ride, where he got just a *little* freaked out when he saw the Emperor Zurg, but otherwise LOVED..

We visited Mickey and Minnie's houses in Toon Town, which he LOVED exploring and wanted to play with EVERYTHING in those houses, and then we met Mickey and Minnie.. which he did not *love* so much.. Hey! Those mice are BIG in person!

He recovered nicely at the play area in front of Mickey's house though.  Nothing like a couple of slides, a choo-choo train, and a bunch of other kids to get over the trauma of seeing your favorite mouse live and in person :p

 

And after a full half day of the Magic Kingdom.. promptly passed the eff out in the stroller, lollipop in position..

We finished the day, after a lengthy nap by Z during which mommy and daddy got our shopping on, by going on 2 more rides, first we did the Jungle Cruise ride, which he spent wide-eyed and pointing at the various animals, so success!! 

The second, was probably a judgement error on mommy's part.. we took him on Pirates of the Caribbean, in my DEFENSE, I do not remember it being *so* scary, and I thought he would love it because he LOVES the backyardigans episode where they pretend to be pirates, he always chimes in with his own "arrgghh!".  But this ride.. epic fail.. he was freaked out approx 30 seconds in, and promptly climbed in my lap for the duration of the ride with his head buried in my shoulder, he'll probably need extensive therapy for this later in life.

In summary, Z had a GREAT time in Florida.  And we mostly did too, although we were reminded why we must NEVER move back, I haven't sweat so much since 2001, my last season of football games as a student in the Swamp.  Everybody is VERY glad to be back in the land of dry heat and brown landscape, even if the temps are still above 100 in mid-September :p.