MATTIE'S BIRTHDAY

Mattie got to celebrate her birthday a few times this year. March 9th fell on a Wednesday this year, kind of a difficult day to do anything with family when the closest family members live 2 1/2 hours away, so we had a low-key celebration with our little family here in Wenatchee. First, Mattie woke up to a huge butterfly balloon Daddy had gotten her and Mickey Mouse pancakes for breakfast, per her request.

CJ went to preschool, so Mattie enjoyed watching some cartoons

and then helping Mommy make cupcakes.

After picking CJ up from preschool, we headed over to the church for play group. After playing for a bit, Daddy came to visit. Then the kids all sang Mattie Happy Birthday and enjoyed the cupcakes.

After play group, Bryce headed back to work and the rest of us went home and had lunch and took naps. When Daddy came home that night, we took Mattie out to Red Robin for her birthday dinner.

After dinner, Mattie opened one gift from Mommy and Daddy and the first birthday package that Grandma Forsgren sent her.

The pic on the left is Mattie smiling for the camera. The picture on the right is when she thinks the photo has already been taken. It's getting tricky to catch her with her eyes open these days :)

Then it was time to sing and blow out candles...and eat more cupcakes :)

 We indulged CJ a bit and let him blow out 3 candles of his own (minus the b-day song :)

The next day, the second package from Grandma Forsgren came. Yea! A wagon to pull her animals and dollies! You can see how happy Mattie is about it :)

That weekend we headed out to Bellevue to celebrate Mattie's birthday with Gramma and Papa Mackay. After going to dinner Friday night to celebrate several birthdays, Saturday morning we headed down to Seattle to play at the inflatable playground at Arena Sports.

Unlike CJ and Reese, Mattie was not happy to be there 

After about 30-45 minutes, Mattie finally warmed up and couldn't get enough of the place

Enjoying the bouncy playground: CJ, Mattie, Reese, and Zack

After the inflatable playground, we came home and took some naps. When the kids woke up they saw Papa making frosting for graham crackers - a Papa speciality - so they jumped in and "helped."

And then everyone was ready for cake!

After cake, it was time for presents. Mattie was only interested in the cake and ice cream and was not about to let us take it away from her. Next time we'll be sure to do the presents first :)

As you can see, CJ enjoyed helping Mattie open her gifts. She didn't seem to mind :)

The big present of the night: a pink tricycle from Gramma and Papa!

We knew Mattie was getting a tricycle, and since CJ didn't have one either, our good friends, the Bromiley's, said we could borrow theirs while CJ learned to ride. We surprised him and CJ felt like it was his birthday too :)

Happy 2nd Birthday, Mattie!!