We celebrated Jenna's birthday last week when my parents were in town from California. It's always tough to know what will make Jenna happy on her birthday without feeling like a parental HEEL because we don't go all out. There's a reason: Usually, Jenna does not pay much attention to gifts, goes absolutely POSTAL in crowds of people and does not react well to major b-day hooplas, however well intended! This year, she actually opened her gifts (with a little bribing) and played with them!! The celebration went something like this:
1. Open first gift.
She's doing great! Interested in the packages and happy to please everyone while meanwhile, we are all clapping and cheering her on.
2. Yay First Gift! So much fun! Everyone's clapping and I'm so happy!
3. Okay, onto another gift. Then another. Interest is waning a bit, but she's still game... sorta. :)
4. Okay, y'all. That's it. I'm out! TV's calling to me...or rather, I'm yelling for it! :)
5. US: Hurry, put the cake up there. Quick. Now clap and make lots of noise, silly faces, get her attention. We have to get to the cake, it's a b-day party MUST!
JENNA: Okay, now this is something. Looks so yummy I'm licking my lips and SALIVATING all over my shirt! ;)
By the way, my mommy is the BEST CHEF EVER when it comes to b-day cakes, and hey, I know it doesn't look like the ones in the bakery, but LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING! (Well, okay, maybe Mommy's going out on a limb here... )
6. Jenna! Jenna!??
Something you don't see in the pic: crazy grown-ups jumping around the kitchen, hands raised in the air like adult-sized toddlers, looking for all the world like they had too many spiked egg-nogs because that's INTERESTING to Jenna!!!
Wasn't long before she joined in. Hannah, too: Hey, maybe if I raise my hands in the air, they'll clap for me too, even though it's not my birthday! YAY me!
A present that says it all. *see #4
Jenna playing with her gifts. She loved her new pink movie chair and doodle pad.
Happy birthday to Daddy, too!
And since Grandma and Papa were only in town for one more day, we had a little early Christmas celebration with them.
Below: Hannah's waiting for her turn in the spotlight ;)
Hannah loved this game where paper "butterflies" shot out of a big tall elephant nose while she ran around and tried to catch them in her net. Meanwhile, Jenna loved rubbing her nose on the TV, literally. You tell her to back up and she's right back at the tv again within minutes. Seconds.
Cohen loved the little ride-on toy he got. Papa and Daddy put together MANLY b-day gifts.
Look, everyone, my new trick: NO HANDS!
Look, Ma, I'm-- Woah! Uh-oh...steady, steady...okay, there we go. Whew! I got this!
Much less successful group shot than in my last post:
Cohen is not happy.
It was a wonderful night.
We'll miss you Grandma and Papa!
2 comments:
OMG! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNA!!!!! I can't believe she's NINE already! I remember when she was just a baby, does it make you feel old?! ;-) I am so excited Cohen is WALKING!!! He looks very proud of himself ;-) Looks like you guys had a great time! The house looks AMAZING by the way! The tree looks great! And yay birthday-christmas-visitors-party fun! I love being able to see all these pictures, it feels so good to feel connected!!
Another post! I'm so excited. Looks like you had great birthday & early Christmas celebrations. Yay for Jenna making it through to the cake and for Cohen standing on his own. Hannah was so sweetly comforting him in the group shot. Glad you all are doing well. Merry Christmas!
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