You & Me, Kid

On Monday I took my very big girl to Toys R Us to pick out a present with all her birthday money.  We were having a much needed Mama & Eden day.  With school, work and studying I feel like she's slipping away and growing up before I have a chance to soak it in.  So off to the toy store we went! We wondered the halls, changing our present at every isle.  As we were making our way to the registers, something caught Eden's eye and she bee-lined it before I could catch her.  Here is where she ended up...

"This my birfday present, Mama!"  She was NOT getting off that 4-wheeler until I told her yes.  She wove her way down the isle trying each one on for size but ultimately she came back to this one.  I told her it was too expensive (try explaining that to a 2 year old!)  I told her that maybe HoHoHo (a.k.a. Santa) and the grandma's could work out a deal for Christmas, but not today.  Her reply was this... "I NOT get it for HoHoHo...it's my BIRFDAY present!" So what did I do?  I dragged her kicking and screaming towards the door, some special day this was turning out to be. 

Luckily, there was a middle isle display of Toy Story 3 and it was on sale (SCORE!).  I showed her Jessie and Woody and asked her if she wanted this for her present.  She gave me an adamant "uh HUH!" Then she proceeded to open it right in the store.  I gave the nice check out lady my half opened DVD and as I was trying to pay for it Eden ran off again.  I hurried and pay and went to track her down.  This time I found her here...

Since It was our special day, I decided to let her ride a couple times, which lead to a couple more times

Which lead to riding every ride inside the store... fortunately, there was only 2 and she had a blast.

She went SUPER FAST on Dumbo...aerodynamic even

I had to remind her about the park in order to get her off the rides.  One mention of a slide and POP! off she went running to the car.

We headed to the park and I was happy to see that there were some friends for her to play with, but I forgot that my child is an only child and she isn't so outgoing and wanted mama to play with her.  So I took off my shoes, rolled up my pants and we explored the playground...

 We've got the playground down.  Crawl, climb, get to high for mom to safely spot (giving me a slight heart attach) and then DOWN the slide with a squeal and "AGAIN!"

The park has taken the place of her beloved Gymboree Play & Learn.  She's set as long as the park has a tunnel....check.

After our Toy Store adventure and park playing we headed home for lunch and a nap.  I had to go to work so Eden and Daddy got to hang out a bit, doing who knows what.  I'm sure they had lots of fun because when I got home my house a DISASTER but my Eden looked like she'd had a blast...

I asked my husband what in the world happened to my house and he replied "We played a little dress up and beauty salon all while watching Toy Story 3."  A.k.a Eden's Heaven.

That night after I peeled off the princess costume, wiped off the inch of capstick on her cheeks and tucked her into bed I promised myself we are going to have more of these Eden & Mama days cuz if nothing else, my little girl will know I love her to pieces...cuz I do.  Oh.so.much!

Super Hero Party Part 2

Today the backyard was transformed into the official Super Hero Headquarters...all for one very special girl.

I was running around like a mad person trying to get everything JUST right before our guests arrived.  I was feeling very frantic, but every time Eden peaked her little head outside, she would say "Mama, it looks wonderful!"  "You did Good, Mama"  "It's my birfday party Mama!"  She was so excited and so happy, I had to take a minute and soak it all in.  She's the reason I've been stay up late night for the past month just to make her day special.  And it was OH so worth it!

Super Hero Headquarters was fulled loaded with every kind of sweet a super hero could hope for.  We had "Green Lantern Lemonade", "Cake POPS", "Catwoman Cupcakes", "Marvel M&Ms", "Spiderman Skittles", and "Flash Gordan Fish". Just enough to get the kids on a sugar high and then send them home for dinner.  That's what parties are for right?

As guests arrived they suited up in preparation for the super hero training course.

Once the capes were decorated, masks made and super hero names assigned, it was time to get to work.  These super heroes had a mission.... to clean up Gotham City...

There super hero quest was this... Travel to Planet Krypton and carefully extract a piece of kryptonite without getting all their super powers zapped and place it in the toxic waste.

If your super powers were zapped too much the kids were instructed to "power up" on Marvel M&M's and WHAM water.

Next, they were to race past Gotham City and shoot the Super Villain...

Then, they had to build up speed by racing across the yard into a pile of soft blankets for "Flight Practice"

and finally, after they completed these tasks, they had to return to Gotham City and give their best super hero pose.

Now that everyone was official super heroes, we spent the afternoon running, screaming, and testing out our super powers.

Eden didn't know what to do with herself.  All of her favorite friends were there and they all wanted to play with her. After some more training practice, we settled down and let everyone open Eden's gifts.

Each kid grabbed the gift they brought for her and then opened it for her (it was a bit chaotic). She didn't seem to mind because she was too involved trying to get her baby out of the box...pronto!

Once the sugar high had worn off and kids were crying and naps were needed.  We sent the fully trained super heroes on their way to protect their neighborhood from the villains lurking there. 

We gave our final good byes with kisses & hugs and a thanks for coming.  As I slowly wandered back into the house, I had to laugh at myself as I leaned on the back door and beheld the carnage.

I spent the better part of the morning sweating my butt off running around trying to get the backyard perfect, only to have it demolished in less than two hours.  Eh...It was still worth it, because the sheer joy and happiness on my baby girl's face was more than worth it.

After the house was quiet and I had a minute to breathe, Les went downstairs to get Eden's present from us.  She patiently waited to see what it could be.

A bike!  She was so excited.  Unfortunately, it's a little bit too big but that didn't stop her from demanding Les to push her around the kitchen until he couldn't bend over any longer.

I know I say this ALL the time but I seriously can't believe my baby is 2!  It seems like yesterday I was holding her at the hospital completely nervous about being a mom but instantly in love with the little spirit in my arms.  Now, I try to cuddle my not so baby and she tells me "Okay mama, I'm done."  I love her more than I can ever explain.  She is my world and without her, my life wouldn't be complete.  Happy Birthday my sweet, little, sassy, sinker butt!!