Happy 2nd Birthday, Matthew James!

My little boy is 2!  How is that even possible?  Seriously . . . how is that possible?  Time has flown by and, while motherhood has certainly been harder than I ever thought it would be (why did no one tell me the 'terrible two's' start at age one?), it's also been more joyful and rewarding that I ever imagined.

We've had a lot of family issues going on in the Wright household that led to a complete lack of time and preparation for a "proper" party but, luckily, Matty is two, and he didn't really care.  I was able to make a few cupcakes . . . 

 . . . and call up a few friends for a last-minute "Party at the Park."  Splash pads, swings, slides:  what else do you really need a for a two-year old's party, right?  Of course, Matty and his friends didn't care about that.  All they cared about was a nearby mud puddle.  They spent a good chunk of time splashing in the muddy water and throwing dirt at the ground, the light pole, and each other.

Thank goodness for the splash pads and a free "white trash bath" afterwards.

Two precious birthday cards from two of Matty's friends,  Kaylee and Jordan.

Daddy, of course, had to work so we had another small, mini-party when he got home, which meant even MORE cupcakes.  Matthew was VERY concerned about the candle.  As I was lighting it, he kept yelling "HOT! HOT!" in the background.

 

My little non-sweet tooth (seriously--how is this kid related to me?) wasn't interested in the cupcake.  All he wanted was the sprinkles off the top . . . 

. . . and to put the candle back where it belonged.

After (not eating) cake, it was FINALLY time for presents.  We are so blessed to have had friends and family from across the country shower Matty with presents, and we had been hiding them in the laundry room for over a week.  MJ may not have really understood the whole concept of a "birthday," but he darn-sure understood that there were presents in the laundry room he was not allowed to have.  He was NOT happy about it, either.  So imagine his elation when I finally pulled them out and told them he could FINALLY have them.  He wasted no time in diving right in.

A pretty good haul for someone who didn't even really understand why he was getting presents in the first place.  Our little boy sure is loved by some generous, thoughtful people!

Our tired little boy in bed after a long, happy day with one of his new toys (if you didn't notice, tractors and trucks were sort of the theme of the day).  

Thank you everyone near and far who helped make Matty's birthday so special.  We are so blessed by friends, real family, and our military family.  

And wish us luck as we navigate the "official" start of the Terrible Two's. :)