A "JOYE"FUL LIFE: "Elijah Brooks' Birthday Party"

Elijah Brooks' 2nd birthday was on Nov. 7. As you may recall from almost 2 years ago on this blog, his due date was Nov. 9. I was induced on the 6th, and after 36 hours of labor, he arrived the night of the 7th! I still recall every single detail in vivid memory, and probably will each year for the rest of my life.

We decided to have his birthday party on the 6th since the 7th was a Sunday. Given his current obsession with tractors, we decided to go with a "tractor theme", and thought a hayride would be appropriate given the time of year. When I originally started planning this party a few months ago, it was 90 degrees outside with no cool weather in sight. I was beginning to think this would be the hottest hayride ever! Needless to say, I was quite mistaken. We woke up the morning of the party to frost on the ground, weather in the 30's and relentless wind. I thought at least it wasn't raining and was just hoping that the parents would realize how cold it was and to dress their kids appropriately. We had 10 little 2-4 year olds at the party and they were able to run around and warm up on the playground for about 45 minutes or so. Afterwards, it was time to sing "Happy Birthday" and cake into the AMAZING cake that my precious friend Anna decorated. As a side note, Anna and all 3 of her precious girls came over to our house the day before to help me with the cake. Jay's parents had also flown in the night before from South Carolina to help us celebrate (Jay's mom and EB have the same birthday). I wish I had videotaped the entire event of making this cake! Jay's parents had taken EB out of the house for a few hours to help, so we were minus 1 child, but still had 3 kids under the age of 2 1/2 trying to make this cake! Not to mention, Anna's house is going through major renovations right now and contractors kept calling her on her cell phone while she was trying to decorate the cake, take care of a toddler and twin 6 month olds! Jay's parents came home with EB, so for the last 2 hours, we had all 4 kids in the room with us while we were trying to make this cake...., well really 5 kids, because Jay kept coming in the kitchen "taste testing" by licking the icing!!!!! It was truly hysterical! But, as pictures can attest, we did it and it turned out gorgeous! THANK YOU ANNA, for making this so special for my sweet boy!

Okay, back to party. After the kids ate their cake and snacks and their hands were frozen solid, we loaded them up in the trailer for a hayride around our church's property. I kept telling myself, "hayrides are supposed to be cold, right"? I really think the children had a wonderful time, especially the birthday boy. They could have cared less that it was cold.

Besides the cold, the party was a total success and I could not have been happier with the way that it turned out. A few of EB's friends were sick and unable to come, but we still had 10 little ones to help us celebrate and he was so happy. He kept singing, "Happy Buffday to Ewijah Bwooks", all day long and it was absolutely adorable. He definitely knew this was "his day", and he was enjoying and savoring every single minute. He even wanted to open his gifts slowly and deliberately, inspecting each gift closely before going on to the next one - just taking it all in.

After the party, my sweet Mom had made a huge pot of seafood gumbo and rice for the family and we all enjoyed some family time in the fellowship hall at church. It was a perfect lunch for a cold day. We let EB open some of his gifts after lunch, and then took the rest home for him to open that evening and the next day on his actual birthday.

Between his birthday, Jay's mom's, and my sister's on the next day, it was quite a weekend of celebrating birthday's.

I still can't believe my baby is 2 years old! The day he turned 2, my "your toddler is.....", E-newsletter suddenly turned into, "your PRESCHOOLER is"....., newsletter! I am not sure I am okay with that!

Happy Birthday my sweet boy! You will always be mommy's baby.

Before church, Sunday morning November 7. Happy Birthday!

Brand new workbench and tools!

So proud and excited.

New "Thomas the Train" big wheel. Still learning how to pedal, but he's getting it.

New John Deere weed eater, just like Daddy's!

I heard, "Elijah Brooks do it", many times while taking this picture! Independent spirit :)

New books. He LOVES to read and asks multiple times a day to sit in his bed and read books.

Cousin Wyatt being such a big helper. Think they are related??

Yes, my child is riding around on a cart that stacks plates in the church fellowship hall! Hey, we make our own fun.

Gammy and Elijah Brooks - same birthday.

What these 2 do best together. EB always asks my dad, "E-Daddy, play Mozart".

The table, complete with cake, animal crackers, John Deere fruit snacks, and "haystacks".

The CAKE! (baked by mommy and decorated by my amazing friend, Anna)!

Party favors. Each child got a mini pumpkin with their name on it, and a bag of goodies including a scarecrow, John Deere stickers, and a "pull-back" tractor.