Birthday Boy

If there's one thing I can say is the absolute truth... it would be that the years have never gone by as fast as they have now that Allen Jess is a part of our family. We celebrated Allen's second birthday, and for the life of me I don't know where the past two years have gone. Time has gone by so fast... it's just impossible to think that he made his grand entrance only just two short years ago!

That morning we kicked off the celebration

with a big yummy breakfast.

With a plate full of his favorite fruit, french toast, bacon, and then a bunch of cupcakes on the side... Allen couldn't have been more excited!

The rest of the morning turned into a photo session... in hopes to capture the cutest and best pic with all his birthday swag! As you can see, Allen was just thrilled about his birthday shoot! 

Turns out, it was just the lame hat Allen wasn't so thrilled about. So we told him he could take it off, and when he did, a little smile broke out!

We then moved things outside,

taking advantage of a beautiful day.

He just couldn't resist...

and we certainly couldn't blame him!

Naturally, he was way more interested in his cupcakes and his balloons... than he was in smiling and looking at the camera!

After realizing the photo shoot had lasted one too many shots, we moved back inside where it was time for Allen to open his present from Moe-Joe & Dad-Oh.

It was a huge full-size handyman workshop...

which required both of us to put it together.

Fortunately for Allen, it came with his very own power drill, which he absolutely loved! Otherwise, I'm not so sure he would've been able to help.

The many faces of a handyman!

Me & my boy... and our drills,

putting on the final touches.

I don't know... but something tells me

Allen's going to love his little workshop!

The workshop got its fair share of playtime,
but there were yummy cupcakes to be eaten...

And more presents to be opened too!

Back outside we went to try and

capture some more cute birthday photos.

Allen loved his balloons,

and loved parading them around.

After some balloon toting fun out front,

we made our way to the backyard...

Where we set up the camera,

only to have a bunch of silliness occur!

But if that's what it's going to take to get some great

family photos, then I say bring on the silliness! 

That evening... after Allen enjoyed one of his favorite meals

(burger & fries), we decided to do a first for us all.

We took Allen to go see his very first movie in a theater! Lucky for us, we had the place to ourselves... so Allen got to pick out the best seat in the house.

We weren't real sure how this was going to work. I mean if it were 'Nemo' or 'Cars' (his two favorite) he would have no problem sitting still and watching the entire movie... but this was something he had never seen before. But it was 'Planes' we were seeing, so we were fairly confident that he was going to enjoy it... but the fail-safe was definitely the big bag of popcorn in his lap!!! 

Kudos to Allen for sharing!

(Must get that from his mother!)

Between the entertaining movie, the popcorn, the soda, and an empty theater to roam around in, Allen did pretty darn good for it being his very first movie experience.

Back at home and it was finally time to sing Happy Birthday...

...make a wish, and of course to blow out the candle.

The whole blowing out the candle was new to Allen. Actually, just blowing in general was kind of new... so it took a few tries, but he finally got it done (only after realizing the only way he was getting a cupcake was if he blew that darn candle out!).

With no big party and no extended family to help celebrate, it was up to the three of us to make sure Allen's second birthday was as fun and memorable as we could make it. It certainly wasn't anything spectacular, but with a new workshop to play with, seeing a movie at the theater for the first time, and cupcakes to stuff your face with... how could it possibly have been any better?!?!